c Cette semaine j’ai le temps d’aller au cinéma. (la semaine dernière, écrire une dissertation)
d Maintenant la plupart des gens ont un portable. (il y a vingt ans, chose rare)
e Maintenant je peux conduire la voiture de mon père. (l’an dernier, pas de permis)
f J’ai pas pu venir à ta soirée. (finir révisions pour l’examen)
g Cette fois-ci, ça va! (l’autre jour, faire des erreurs tout le temps)
h Aujourd’hui j’ai des problèmes avec mon ordinateur. (hier, marcher impeccablement)3 Translate the following sentences into French, using the imperfect when appropriate.
a Snow covered the ground and it was freezing.
b When she was a child she lived in that house.
c I was fast asleep when she rang up.
d He used to drink pastis at noon every day.
e If it was me, I’d say no!
f When I was younger, I would often visit my grandmother.
g He said it was far too late to send it.
h She had been in the waiting-room for nearly two hours.
i As she was getting dressed, she noticed there was a car on the drive.4 Oral work
Tell the story of Prévert’s dromedary in French, in your own words, and using the imperfect
whenever appropriate.5 Work in pairs
Tell your friend some of your childhood memories, using the imperfect whenever possible.
’Quand j’étais petit(e).. .’6 Written work
Write a paragraph on the following theme, using the imperfect when appropriate.
La vie avant l’invention de l’automobile: Quels étaient les inconvénients? et les avantages?
Comment se débrouillait-on?16 French Grammar in Context