The French imperfect tenseUsing imperfect tense in a conditional sentence
The imperfect tense describes an ongoing action in the past or something that used to happen. Get to grips with using the imperfect tense and check your understanding with a quiz.
Using the imperfect tense in a conditional sentence
To talk about a hypothetical situation, use si (if) with the imperfect in one part of the sentence (the condition), and the conditional Describes what someone would, should or could do or what could happen in the future. in the other part of the sentence, just as in English. For example:
Si nous avions beaucoup d’argent, nous irions en vacances tous les mois. – If we had a lot of money, we would go on holiday every month.
Si j’étais le directeur de mon collège, on n’aurait pas d’uniforme. – If I was the headteacher of my school, we wouldn’t have a uniform.
Choose the correct verb in brackets.
Question
Si [j’étais/je serais] riche, [j’étais/je serais] plus paresseux.
Si j’étais riche, je serais plus paresseux. - If I was rich, I would be lazier.
Question
Si [j’aurais/j’avais] plus d’argent, [j’achetais/j’achèterais] une voiture.
Si j’avais plus d’argent, j’achèterais une voiture. - If I had more money, I would buy a car.
Question
Si nous [habitions/habiterions], à la campagne nous [étions/serions] plus heureux.
Si nous habitions à la campagne, nous serions plus heureux. - If we lived in the countryside, we would be happy.
Question
Si elles [allaient/iraient] au collège à vélo, elles [étaient/seraient] plus en forme.
Si elles allaient au collège à vélo, elles seraient plus en forme. - If they went to school by bike, they would be fit.
