French grammer

When do you use l’imparfait?

Habits, repeated actions, descriptions and things that were happening.

How do you form l’imparfait?

Take the nous present form → remove -ons → add endings.

L’imparfait endings?

-ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient

What is the exception to the normal imparfait stem?

Être → ét- (j’étais, tu étais, etc.)

Je faisais = ?

I was doing / I used to do

When do you use le futur simple?

To say what will happen in the future.

How do you form the futur?

Infinitive + -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont

Futur endings?

-ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont

What happens with -re verbs in the futur?

Remove the final -e, then add the endings.

What is the stem of avoir in the futur?

aur- → j’aurai

When do you use le futur proche?

For something that is going to happen.

How do you form le futur proche?

Aller (present) + infinitive

Je vais jouer = ?

I am going to play.

Nous allons manger = ?

We are going to eat.

When do you use le passé composé?

For a completed action in the past.

How do you form the passé composé?

Present tense of avoir/être + past participle

Past participle of -ER verbs?

Replace -er → -é (jouer → joué)

Past participle of -IR verbs?

Replace -ir → -i (finir → fini)

Past participle of -RE verbs?

Replace -re → -u (vendre → vendu)

Which verbs use être in the passé composé?

Mainly movement/reflexive verbs; learn the required list.

What must agree when using être?

The past participle agrees with the subject.

Elle est allée = ?

She went / She has gone.

What is the passive voice?

The subject receives the action, rather than doing it.

How do you form the passive voice?

Être + past participle (+ par)

Le professeur enseigne la classe → passive?

La classe est enseignée par le professeur.

What happens to the past participle in the passive?

It agrees with the subject.