Why not “je m’endors”?
Look at these uses of L'Imparfait:
Je lisais tous les jours.
I used to read every day.
Tu étudiais chaque jour.
You used to study each day.
Il jouait au football quand il était petit.
He played football when he was small.
Tous les étés, nous allions dans le sud de la France.
Every summer, we would go to the South of France.
Ma mère me berçait dans ses bras jusqu'à ce que je m'endorme.
My mother used to rock me in her arms until I fell asleep.
Note that one of the uses of L'Imparfait is to express actions that repeated in the past, or past habits (e.g. I would go every summer, I used to play, ...).
Note that in English you can use used to or would, but you can also use the Simple Past (i.e. I played) to express habits and repeated actions.
Other uses for L'Imparfait:
Expressing continuing action in L'Imparfait (imperfect tense)
Describing and expressing opinions in L'Imparfait (imperfect tense)
See also how to combine L'Imparfait and Le Passé Composé: Using Le Passé Composé on its own or with L'Imparfait
And to see how to conjugate in L'Imparfait: Conjugate regular verbs in L'Imparfait (imperfect tense) and Conjugate être in L'Imparfait (imperfect tense)
Learn more about these related French grammar topics
Examples and resources
Nous mangions des bonbons quand nous avions dix ans.
We ate sweets when we were ten years old.
Ma mère me berçait dans ses bras jusqu'à ce que je m'endorme.
My mother used to rock me in her arms until I fell asleep.
Il jouait au football quand il était petit.
He played football when he was small.
Tous les étés, nous allions dans le sud de la France.
Every summer, we would go to the South of France.
Je lisais tous les jours.
I used to read every day.
Ils chantaient toute la journée.
They used to sing all day.
Tu étudiais chaque jour.
You used to study each day.
Vous étiez très méchants quand vous étiez enfants.
You used to be so naughty when you were children.
Nous allions à la plage le matin.
We used to go to the beach in the morning.
Q&A Forum 21 questions, 45 answers

Conjugation of endormir

Hi Brian,
You have to use the subjunctive after 'jusqu'à ce que' .
Take a look at the following Kwiziq lesson for more information on the matter
Hope this helps!

Conjugation of endormir
Why not “je m’endors”?
Don't have an account yet? Join today
Nous allions
Seems to me that « were going every summer » and « used to go every summer » are pretty much the same thing. My translator for nous allions agreed. What’s the difference and how does one say « were going? » Merci !
Yes, I would agree. Did you find an example where these two are translated differently?
The difference would appear to be in the English, not in the French. What was the context?
Nous allions
Seems to me that « were going every summer » and « used to go every summer » are pretty much the same thing. My translator for nous allions agreed. What’s the difference and how does one say « were going? » Merci !
Don't have an account yet? Join today
Use of the L’Imparfat
L’imparfait - what a minefield ! It’s not a question, but i’ve found that when it’s used to express habits or repeated actions more sense is made in the English when ‘would’ is used over ‘used to’ - which indeed you’ve noted in your lesson. This has helped me understand its use in French.
So a sentence like “Je lisais tous les jours” could be translated as “I would / used to read every day”
Often when you would use some constructions such as you mention in English, it does indeed point to the imparfait in French.
Use of the L’Imparfat
L’imparfait - what a minefield ! It’s not a question, but i’ve found that when it’s used to express habits or repeated actions more sense is made in the English when ‘would’ is used over ‘used to’ - which indeed you’ve noted in your lesson. This has helped me understand its use in French.
So a sentence like “Je lisais tous les jours” could be translated as “I would / used to read every day”
Don't have an account yet? Join today
Tu étudiais chaque jour. You used to study each day.
Tu étudiais chaque jour.You used to study each day.
This cannot mean - you were studying each day? If not, how would I write that?
I thought that - Les oiseaux chantaient = The birds 'were' singing, not 'used to sing'...

Hi Jennifer,
The imparfait can translate both meanings of 'used to' and 'were doing' so the only way you would know would be by the context.
'You were studying every day' ,would be -
Tu étudiais chaque jour
that is what I thought Cécile, but your site gave the other answer - You 'used to' study each day for 'Tu étudiais chaque jour'. I always it difficult to analyse the context in just a phrase in your tests... But thank you for your response.
that is what I thought Cécile, but your site gave the other answer - You 'used to' study each day for 'Tu étudiais chaque jour'. I always it difficult to analyse the context in just a phrase in your tests... But thank you for your response.
Tu étudiais chaque jour. You used to study each day.
Tu étudiais chaque jour.You used to study each day.
This cannot mean - you were studying each day? If not, how would I write that?
I thought that - Les oiseaux chantaient = The birds 'were' singing, not 'used to sing'...
Don't have an account yet? Join today
Continous or Repetitive action?
I notice that all of the examples here have cues in them to indicate repetitive action. What if the sentence does not contain such cues? Should it be interpreted as continuous action or repetitive action?
e.g. Je faisais du sport.
Without any cues would that mean “I was playing sports” or “I used to play sports” or is it equally ambiguous?
Without any other clue, its exact temporal interpretation would be left open. One would wait for the speaker to provide some context.
Continous or Repetitive action?
I notice that all of the examples here have cues in them to indicate repetitive action. What if the sentence does not contain such cues? Should it be interpreted as continuous action or repetitive action?
e.g. Je faisais du sport.
Without any cues would that mean “I was playing sports” or “I used to play sports” or is it equally ambiguous?
Don't have an account yet? Join today
What does 'vous veniez me voir chaque semaine'
I chose 'you used to come to see me every week'.
it was marked incorrect and the correct answer was ' you used to come and see me every week'.
voir means to see and there is no 'et' in the sentence
Please explain why this is correct. I couldn't find an answer in my research.
thanks

Bonjour Linda !
I've had a look at the question you mentioned, and I'm a bit confused, as the answer "You used to come to see me every week." is not an option we offer, therefore can't possibly be the one you selected...
The three possible answers are (with the correct one in green here):
You used to come and see me every week
You come to see me every week
You had come to see me every week
I hope that's helpful!
Bonne journée !
Your answer seems just fine to me. Don't know why it was marked as incorrect.

Hi Linda,
If you use the ‘Report it’ button on your Correction Board it will link directly to the quiz you are referring to and it will make it easier for us to answer your question...

Bonjour Linda !
It is incorrect, the only correct option here is "You used to come and see me every week"
What does 'vous veniez me voir chaque semaine'
I chose 'you used to come to see me every week'.
it was marked incorrect and the correct answer was ' you used to come and see me every week'.
voir means to see and there is no 'et' in the sentence
Please explain why this is correct. I couldn't find an answer in my research.
thanks
Don't have an account yet? Join today

Translation query
Bonjour Madame,
In the sentence from the lesson "Il jouait au football quand il était petit." Should the translation not be as-
"He used to play football when he was young."(in place of played)
Please explain the reason.
Merci d'avance
Verbs of state, ones that describe a state of being or emotions, are most often in th imperfect than the perfect. Être is such a word, as it describes a state and not an action.

Hi Varsha,
In the example you quote, you cannot say, quand j'ai été petit and 'ça a été un match' for the reasons given by Chris above.
Verbs of state like, être, paraître, sembler, croire, penser describe duration which is conveyed by using the 'imparfait' in French and they are seldom in the 'passé composé'.
The imparfait is normally translated into English by,
something you did on a regular basis, you used to do, or would do frequently at that period of time - when you were a child.
Hope this helps!

Also why the verb "être" in this sentence is used in "Imparfait" ? Can't Passé Composé be used ?

I have also observed a sentence like-
"C'était un match entre l'Angleterre et la France."
Why can't Passé Composé be used?
In the previous post too I had doubts with " Il était petit" which I still am unable to figure out even after re-reading the lessons.
Madame Cécile, aidez-moi s'il vous plaît.

Translation query
Bonjour Madame,
In the sentence from the lesson "Il jouait au football quand il était petit." Should the translation not be as-
"He used to play football when he was young."(in place of played)
Please explain the reason.
Merci d'avance
Don't have an account yet? Join today
This sentence in the writing challenges had me fooled: Mon meilleur ami Pierre, qui jusqu'à l'année dernière partageait un trois-pièce avec moi....
This sentence in the writing challenges had me fooled: Mon meilleur ami Pierre, qui jusqu'à l'année dernière partageait un trois-pièce avec moi....
Don't have an account yet? Join today
In the sentence ‘when we arrived in the changing rooms’ the verb ‘arrived’ is conjugated in the imperfait and not passé ci
In the sentence ‘when we arrived in the changing rooms’ the verb ‘arrived’ is conjugated in the imperfait and not passé ci
Don't have an account yet? Join today

Tu m’accompagnais à l'école tous les matins
I think you should trust the translations on this site more than Google Translate, but still, if you ask Google to translate "You used to accompany me to school every morning" into French, it does give "Tu m'accompagnais à l'école tous les matins".

Tu m’accompagnais à l'école tous les matins
Don't have an account yet? Join today
Hi, I have a question about this sentence "Ma mère me berçait dans ses bras jusqu'à ce que je m'endorme."

Hi Gio,
In this sentence 'je m'endorme' is in the present subjunctive because 'jusqu'à ce que' is always followed by a subjunctive.
Hope this helps!
Hi, I have a question about this sentence "Ma mère me berçait dans ses bras jusqu'à ce que je m'endorme."
Don't have an account yet? Join today
I have a lot of problems posting my full quesions -
Hi Dragana,
yes, there is a problem with being able to post full questions. A lot of people suffer from it. I did bring it to the attention of the kwiziq team. If you want, why not send them a mail (under Tools > Help & Support).
Yes, "je m'endorme" is subjunctive; "je m'endors" would be indicative.
About your second question: you could also say "les bras" but in this case "ses bras" just stresses the fact that they belong to the mother since there is more than one person involved.
-- Chris (not a native speaker).
I have a lot of problems posting my full quesions -
Don't have an account yet? Join today
I cannot see the difference between the "imperfect tense" and "avoir l'habitude"

I cannot see the difference between the "imperfect tense" and "avoir l'habitude"
Don't have an account yet? Join today
What has this to do with imparfait?

What has this to do with imparfait?
Don't have an account yet? Join today
"Tu joues de la trompette ---> Tu en joues"

Hi Vi,
With music instruments we use 'Jouer de',
Tu joues de la guitare, de l'accordéon, du piano...
so because of the 'de' it will be 'tu en joues'.
With sport , we use 'Jouer à',
je joue au rugby, je joue au tennis, je joue à la marelle ( hopscotch) je joue aux échecs ( chess)
and because of the 'à' it will be 'j'y joue' .
Hope this helps!
"Tu joues de la trompette ---> Tu en joues"
Don't have an account yet? Join today
I always think about this in terms of describing a theater performance. The imparfait is used to describe what the stage and the scene looks like whereas the passé composé describes the action itself taking place on the stage. For example:
Il pleuvait et il faisait sombre dehors. Le voisin promenait son chien. Juste à ce moment-là une voiture est passé devant chez moi.
It was raining and dark outside. The neighbour was walking his dog. -- Description of the "setting", hence imparfait.
Juste à ce moment-là une voiture est passé devant chez moi. -- Description of the "action", hence passé composé.
There are several other uses of the imparfait (e.g. in conditional sentences with "si" and reported speech, etc.) but these are less confusing because they follow a strict grammatical rule.
I hope that helps to clarify the issue a bit.
-- Chris (not a native speaker).

If you are describing something in the past that is merely a description of something which happened usually or over some period of time, this also qualifies as "backdrop" and requires the imparfait.
For example:
Quand j'étais enfant, je jouais souvent avec ma balle préferée. -- As a child I often played with my favorite ball.
This is a description of something which took place habitually and therefore one uses the imparfait.
-- Chris (not a native speaker).
Don't have an account yet? Join today
what is the difference between the imperfect tense and the passé compose

Don't have an account yet? Join today
m'endorme

m'endorme
Don't have an account yet? Join today
An imparfait can be conjugated with a past,condtitonnel and what all tenses
An imparfait can be conjugated with a past,condtitonnel and what all tenses
Don't have an account yet? Join today
Terminology of tenses

Terminology of tenses
Don't have an account yet? Join today
What's the difference between "tous les jours" and "chaque jour"? Do they both mean every day?


What's the difference between "tous les jours" and "chaque jour"? Do they both mean every day?
Don't have an account yet? Join today