Conjugating aller in the imperfect tense

The imperfect tense (l'imparfait) is used to describe ongoing or repeated actions in the past. Conjugating "aller" (to go) in the imperfect can be tricky for French learners because it's an irregular verb. Let's break down its conjugation and usage.

Imperfect conjugation of aller

Here's how to conjugate "aller" in the imperfect tense:

• Je allais (I was going)
• Tu allais (You were going)
• Il/Elle/On allait (He/She/One was going)
• Nous allions (We were going)
• Vous alliez (You were going)
• Ils/Elles allaient (They were going)

Usage examples

The imperfect form of "aller" is often used to describe:

1. Habitual actions in the past:

   • Quand j'étais petit, j'allais souvent au parc. (When I was little, I often went to the park.)

2. Ongoing actions in the past:

   • Nous allions à la plage quand il s'est mis à pleuvoir. (We were going to the beach when it started to rain.)

3. Background information in a story:

   • Il allait à l'école quand il a rencontré son ami. (He was going to school when he met his friend.)

Common mistakes to avoid

Be careful not to confuse the imperfect with the passé composé (j'ai allé), which is used for completed actions in the past. For example:

• Incorrect: J'ai allé au cinéma hier soir. (I went to the cinema last night.)
• Correct: Je suis allé(e) au cinéma hier soir.

Remember, "aller" uses "être" as its auxiliary verb in compound tenses.

By mastering the imperfect conjugation of "aller," you'll be able to describe past actions and situations more accurately in French.