Conjugate semi-regular -ger verbs in L'Imparfait (imperfect tense)

Aurélie Drouard
2019-10-25
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In L'imparfait, almost all verbs conjugate in the same way, but verbs ending in -ger require a slight spelling change - an extra 'e' after the soft 'g' - to keep the pronunciation [j]. 

Notice that in the nous and vous forms, the -e of mange has been removed because the -i is enough to keep the g soft.

 
je mangeais
tu mangeais
il/elle/on mangeait
nous mangions
vous mangiez
ils/elles mangeaient

Listen to these examples:

Je mangeais des pâtes.I used to eat pasta.

Tu rangeais ta chambre?Were you tidying your room?

Elle voyageait beaucoup.She used to travel a lot.

Nous changions de voiture tous les ans.We changed cars every year.

Vous voyagiez tout le temps.You used to travel all the time.

Ils mangeaient leurs crottes de nez.They used to eat their bogies. (ew!)




Here is a non-exhaustive list of -GER verbs:

manger (to eat)
ranger (to tidy)
changer (to change)
voyager (to travel)
partager (to share)
etc

See also Conjugate semi-regular -cer verbs in L'Imparfait (imperfect tense) 

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Examples and resources

Elle voyageait beaucoup.She used to travel a lot.
Ils mangeaient leurs crottes de nez.They used to eat their bogies. (ew!)
Tu rangeais ta chambre?Were you tidying your room?
Je mangeais des pâtes.I used to eat pasta.
Vous voyagiez tout le temps.You used to travel all the time.
Nous changions de voiture tous les ans.We changed cars every year.
I'll be right with you...