The imperfect tense (l'imparfait) has two primary uses: to describe on-going actions or states of being in the past, and to state habitual actions in the past.
The imparfait also has several idiomatic uses found in the following contexts:
suggestions
The imparfait is used to suggest an action in phrases beginning with Si on ... ?
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| Tammy: Si on achetait une grosse Suburban? |
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Tammy: What if we bought a big Suburban?
(note: 'on' is often used in the sense of 'nous') |
| Tex: Si on achetait une Harley Davidson? |
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Tex: What about buying a Harley Davidson? |
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wishes
The imparfait is used to express wishes such as 'If only we didn't have a test
this week!' The French equivalent structure, si + imparfait, may, or may not, contain the adverb seulement:
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| Tex: Si (seulement) on avait plus d'argent! |
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Tex: If (only) we had more money! |
| Tammy: Ah, si (seulement) mes parents nous prêtaient de l'argent! |
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Tammy: If only my parents would lend us some money! |
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Note that the question mark at the end of the sentence indicates a suggestion, and the exclamation mark a wish.
In spoken French, however, you have to rely on context and intonation to distinguish between wish and suggestion. Listen to the difference in intonation between these two sentences:
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| Tammy: Si je me faisais tatouer? |
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Tammy: What if I got tattooed? |
| Tex: Si seulement je pouvais avoir une moto! |
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Tex: If only I could have a motorcycle! |
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For other uses of si + imparfait, see si clauses + conditional.
The imparfait also occurs in idiomatic uses with depuis and venir de.
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