When I was younger (Edexcel GCSE French): Revision Notes
When I was younger
When discussing your childhood and past experiences in French, you'll need to use the imperfect tense (l'imparfait). This tense helps you describe what life was like when you were younger and talk about things you used to do regularly.
The imperfect tense is one of the most useful past tenses in French for storytelling and describing your personal history. Mastering it will greatly improve your ability to talk about your childhood and past experiences.
The imperfect tense
The imperfect tense is used to express what used to happen in the past. It's perfect for describing:
- Past habits and routines
- How things were in the past
- Ongoing actions or states in the past
Unlike other past tenses, the imperfect focuses on repeated actions or continuous states rather than single completed events. This is a crucial distinction that affects when you choose to use this tense.
How to form the imperfect tense
The formation follows a simple pattern for almost all verbs:
Formation Steps: Creating the Imperfect Tense
Step 1: Take the nous form of the present tense
Step 2: Remove the -ons ending
Step 3: Add the imperfect endings
For example, with the verb "habiter" (to live):
- Present tense nous form: nous habitons
- Remove -ons: habit-
- Add imperfect ending: j'habitais
Imperfect endings
| Person | Ending | Example (habiter) |
|---|---|---|
| je | -ais | j'habitais |
| tu | -ais | tu habitais |
| il/elle/on | -ait | il/elle habitait |
| nous | -ions | nous habitions |
| vous | -iez | vous habitiez |
| ils/elles | -aient | ils/elles habitaient |
The irregular verb être (to be)
Être is the only irregular verb in the imperfect tense. You must memorise these forms as they don't follow the regular pattern.
| Person | Être (to be) |
|---|---|
| j'étais | I was/used to be |
| tu étais | you were/used to be |
| il/elle était | he/she was/used to be |
| nous étions | we were/used to be |
| vous étiez | you were/used to be |
| ils/elles étaient | they were/used to be |
Useful vocabulary for talking about childhood
Past activities and descriptions
| French | English |
|---|---|
| quand j'étais petit(e) | when I was little |
| à l'âge de... | at the age of... |
| il y a cinq/dix ans | 5/10 years ago |
| je faisais | I used to do |
| je jouais | I used to play |
| j'allais | I used to go |
| c'était | it was |
| il y avait | there was/were |
| je participais | I used to participate |
Sample Sentences in Context
- Quand j'étais plus jeune, j'habitais dans une grande maison. (When I was younger, I used to live in a big house.)
- À l'âge de dix ans, je jouais beaucoup dehors. (At the age of ten, I used to play outside a lot.)
- Il y avait un parc près de chez moi. (There was a park near my home.)
- J'étais plus calme et je lisais beaucoup. (I was calmer and I used to read a lot.)
Translating "used to"
Key Translation Concept
When translating "used to" from English to French, remember there are no direct French equivalent words. You simply use the imperfect tense.
For example:
- "He used to play" = Il jouait
- "We used to live" = Nous habitions
The imperfect can also translate as "was/were doing" for continuous past actions: Il jouait toute la journée = "He played all day" or "He was playing all day"
Practice exercises
Practice Exercise: Translation Practice
Translate from French to English:
- Ta vie était comment quand tu étais plus jeune?
- J'habitais dans une petite ville à la campagne.
Translate from English to French: 3. I used to be more active. 4. She used to read a lot.
Answers:
- What was your life like when you were younger?
- I used to live in a small town in the countryside.
- J'étais plus actif/active.
- Elle lisait beaucoup.
Pronunciation tips
Pronunciation Guide for Imperfect Endings
- -ais, -ait endings sound like "eh" (similar to the English word "hey" without the 'y')
- -ions sounds like "ee-on"
- -iez sounds like "ee-ay"
- -aient sounds like "eh" (same as -ais/-ait)
Exam guidance
When preparing for exams, keep these strategies in mind:
- In speaking and writing tasks, use the imperfect tense when describing your childhood
- Look for time indicators like "quand j'étais petit(e)" or "à l'âge de..." as signals to use the imperfect
- Remember that être is the only irregular verb - all others follow the regular pattern
- Practice forming the imperfect from different present tense nous forms
Key Points to Remember:
- The imperfect tense describes past habits, repeated actions, and ongoing states
- Formation: take nous form → remove -ons → add imperfect endings (-ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient)
- Être is irregular in the imperfect: j'étais, tu étais, il était, etc.
- "Used to" in English = imperfect tense in French (no direct translation needed)
- Use time expressions like "quand j'étais petit(e)" and "à l'âge de..." to set the past context