Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb alterner
Introduction to the verb alterner
The English translation of the French verb “alterner” is “to alternate.” The infinitive form “alterner” is pronounced as [al-tɛʁ-ne].
The verb “alterner” comes from the Latin word “alternāre,” which means “to alternate.” In everyday French, “alterner” is used in the imparfait tense to describe actions or events that were occurring in the past, typically without a clear beginning or end. It is often used to express habits, repetitive actions, or ongoing situations in the past.
Here are three simple examples of “alterner” in the imparfait tense with their English translations:
-
Nous alternions nos activités entre travail et détente.
(We were alternating between work and relaxation.) -
Chaque été, nous alternerions nos vacances entre la montagne et la mer.
(Every summer, we would alternate our vacations between the mountains and the sea.) -
Pendant notre séjour en France, nous alternions les visites touristiques et les moments de repos.
(During our stay in France, we alternated between sightseeing and moments of rest.)
Please note that these translations are not literal, but rather convey the general meaning of the sentences.
Table of the Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of alterner
Pronoun | Conjugation | Short Example | English Translation |
---|---|---|---|
je | alternais | J’alternais entre le travail et les études. | I was alternating between work and studies. |
tu | alternais | Tu alternais les couleurs. | You were alternating the colors. |
il | alternait | Il alternait entre la lecture et la musique. | He was alternating between reading and music. |
elle | alternait | Elle alternait les exercices. | She was alternating the exercises. |
on | alternait | On alternait les responsabilités. | We were alternating the responsibilities. |
nous | alternions | Nous alternions les tâches ménagères. | We were alternating the household chores. |
vous | alterniez | Vous alterniez les activités. | You were alternating the activities. |
ils | alternaient | Ils alternaient les équipes. | They were alternating the teams. |
elles | alternaient | Elles alternaient les rôles. | They were alternating the roles. |
Other Conjugations for Alterner.
Le Present (Present Tense) Conjugation of the French Verb alterner
Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb alterner (You’re reading it right now!)
Passé Simple (Simple Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb alterner
Passé Composé (Present Perfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb alterner
Futur Simple (Simple Future) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb alterner
Futur Proche (Near Future) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb alterner
Plus-que-parfait (Pluperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb alterner
Passé Antérieur (Past Anterior) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb alterner
Futur Antérieur (Future Anterior) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb alterner
Subjonctif Présent (Subjunctive Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb alterner
Subjonctif Passé (Subjunctive Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb alterner
Subjonctif Imparfait (Subjunctive Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb alterner
Subjonctif Plus-que-parfait (Subjunctive Pluperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb alterner
Conditionnel Présent (Conditional Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb alterner
Conditionnel Passé (Conditional Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb alterner
Conditionnel Passé II (Conditional Past II) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb alterner
L’impératif Présent (Imperative Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb alterner
L’impératif Passé (Imperative Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb alterner
L’infinitif Présent (Infinitive Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb alterner
L’infinitif Passé (Infinitive Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb alterner
Le Participe Présent (Present Participle) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb alterner
Le Participe Passé (Past Participle) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb alterner
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Alterner – About the French Imparfait Tense
NOTE: To take a deep dive into all the French tenses then see our article on Mastering French Tense Conjugation.
Formation of the Imparfait Tense
For regular -er verbs:
For regular -ir verbs
For regular -re verbs
Common Everyday Usage Patterns
Description of Past Habits
Background Information
Mental and Emotional States
It’s employed to express emotions, thoughts, or physical sensations in the past. For example: “J’étais content quand il est arrivé.” (I was happy when he arrived.)
Ongoing Actions
Points to Note About the Imparfait Tense
Passé Composé vs. Imparfait
Conditional
Si Clauses
Narration
I hope you enjoyed this article on the verb alterner. Still in a learning mood? Check out another TOTALLY random French verb imparfait conjugation!