comprendre imparfait conjugation
Comprendre (to understand) in the imparfait: comprenais, comprenais, comprenait, comprenions, compreniez, comprenaient.
Imparfait Imperfect
| je | regular: comprendais |
|---|---|
| tu | regular: comprendais |
| il/elle/on | regular: comprendait |
| nous | regular: comprendions |
| vous | regular: comprendiez |
| ils/elles | regular: comprendaient |
ending regular · irr breaks the pattern · tap a form to hear it
When to use the imparfait
The imparfait describes the past as background: habits (“used to”), ongoing actions (“was doing”), descriptions and states. Être is the only verb with an irregular imparfait stem (ét-).
How it is formed
Take the nous form of the present, drop -ons and add ais, ais, ait, ions, iez, aient: nous finissons → je finissais.
Comprendre is irregular here. 6 of 6 forms break the pattern (dark tiles above); the regular pattern would give comprendais, comprendais, comprendait, comprendions, comprendiez, comprendaient.
Comprendre in a sentence
- Je comprends le français.I understand French.
- Il a compris la leçon.He understood the lesson.
Irregular, conjugated like 'prendre'; past participle is 'compris'.
FAQ
What is the imparfait of comprendre?
Comprendre in the French imparfait: je comprenais, tu comprenais, il/elle/on comprenait, nous comprenions, vous compreniez, ils/elles comprenaient.
Is comprendre irregular in the imparfait?
Yes. 6 of 6 forms break the regular pattern: je comprenais (regular would be comprendais); tu comprenais (regular would be comprendais); il/elle/on comprenait (regular would be comprendait); nous comprenions (regular would be comprendions); vous compreniez (regular would be comprendiez); ils/elles comprenaient (regular would be comprendaient).
When do you use the French imparfait?
The imparfait describes the past as background: habits (“used to”), ongoing actions (“was doing”), descriptions and states. Être is the only verb with an irregular imparfait stem (ét-).
How is the imparfait formed?
Take the nous form of the present, drop -ons and add ais, ais, ait, ions, iez, aient: nous finissons → je finissais.
Full comprendre conjugation, all tenses →
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