Que faisais-tu quand ... ? The imperfect tense with regular verbs ('be' + ing)
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe what I and others were doing and what was happening using the imperfect tense.
Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons
Key learning points
- The imperfect tense is used to describe what was happening or what you were doing when something else happened.
- For imperfect of regular verbs remove -ons from 'nous' present tense and add: -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient.
- [ai] sounds like 'vrai', [on] is a nasal sound like 'non', and [ez] sounds like 'écrire'.
Keywords
Imperfect tense - tense used to describe how things were or used to be in the past, or to say what was happening
Sound-symbol correspondence - relationship between letters and their sounds
Common misconception
The ending -aient is pronounced differently to -ais and -ait.
Although the third person plural ending of the imperfect tense contains a lot of letters, it is pronounced the same way as -ais and -ait. Students will need a lot of practice saying the -aient ending out loud to become confident with this verb form.
Teacher tip
Highlight that the endings -ais, ait and -aient are pronounced alike. When the -aient ending is shown, draw students' attention to it and encourage them to repeat the verb a number of times. Task A2 has two versions of audio file. Use 'subject' for the task and 'conjugated' for feedback.
Equipment
Mini whiteboards and pens are useful is available.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which verb is in the imperfect tense?
Q2.What is the imperfect tense ending for 'tu'?
Q3.What is the 'il,elle' ending in the imperfect tense?
Q4.Match the French and English together.
I was choosing
he was choosing
you were leaving
I was leaving
she was hearing
he was hearing
Q5.What verb subject is used to form the imperfect tense?
Q6.Translate the sentence: She was speaking with her friend when the present arrived.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Choose the correct translation for: je regardais la télé.
Q2.Match the subject pronoun to the verb.
écoutais
écoutait
écoutions
écoutiez
écoutaient
Q3.Select the imperfect tense endings which are pronounced in the same way.
Q4.Complete the sentence: The sound-symbol correspondences (SSCs) [ai], [on] and are heard in the endings of the imperfect tense.
Q5.Translate the sentence: I was listening to the radio when phone rang.
Q6.Match the vocabulary together.
lazy
to introduce, introducing
February
boss
instant, moment
to lead, leading
To help you plan your 10 French lesson on: Que faisais-tu quand ... ? The imperfect tense with regular verbs ('be' + ing), download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 French lesson on: Que faisais-tu quand ... ? The imperfect tense with regular verbs ('be' + ing), download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 French lessons from the People and lifestyle: Mes amis unit, dive into the full secondary French curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.