Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb coïncider

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb coïncider

Get the imperfect (imparfait) tense conjugation of coïncider. Includes a FREE downloadable reference sheet (no email required). Alternatively if you have a lot of text to check then use our free French Grammar Checker – no registration required!

The English translation of the French verb “coïncider” is “to coincide.” The infinitive form of “coïncider” is pronounced as “kwa~si.de”.

The term “coïncider” originates from the Latin word “coincidere,” which means “to happen at the same time.” In everyday French, “coïncider” is commonly used to express the idea of two or more events or circumstances happening simultaneously or in agreement.

Here are three examples of how “coïncider” is used in the imparfait tense, along with their English translations:

  1. Pendant que je lisais, le téléphone a sonné et ça coïncidait avec l’arrivée du facteur.
    (While I was reading, the phone rang, and it coincided with the mailman’s arrival.)

  2. Chaque fois que je sortais sans parapluie, il pleuvait. Cela coïncidait avec ma malchance habituelle.
    (Every time I went out without an umbrella, it would rain. It coincided with my usual bad luck.)

  3. Quand nous étions voisins, nos vacances coïncidaient souvent, alors nous partions ensemble.
    (When we were neighbors, our vacations would often coincide, so we would leave together.)

Please note that the verb “coïncider” can also be used in other tenses and moods, but for the purpose of your question, the examples provided are in the imparfait tense.

Table of the Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of coïncider

Pronoun Conjugation Short Example English Translation
je coïncidais Je coïncidais avec lui. I coincided with him.
tu coïncidais Tu coïncidais souvent avec elle. You coincided often with her.
il coïncidait Il coïncidait avec le programme. He coincided with the schedule.
elle coïncidait Elle coïncidait avec ses idées. She coincided with her ideas.
on coïncidait On coïncidait dans nos opinions. We coincided in our opinions.
nous coïncidions Nous coïncidions parfaitement. We coincided perfectly.
vous coïncidiez Vous coïncidiez rarement. You coincided rarely.
ils coïncidaient Ils coïncidaient avec leur vision. They coincided with their vision.
elles coïncidaient Elles coïncidaient dans leurs préférences. They coincided in their preferences.

Other Conjugations for Coïncider.

Le Present (Present Tense) Conjugation of the French Verb coïncider

Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb coïncider (You’re reading it right now!)

Passé Simple (Simple Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb coïncider

Passé Composé (Present Perfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb coïncider

Futur Simple (Simple Future) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb coïncider

Futur Proche (Near Future) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb coïncider

Plus-que-parfait (Pluperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb coïncider

Passé Antérieur (Past Anterior) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb coïncider

Futur Antérieur (Future Anterior) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb coïncider

Subjonctif Présent (Subjunctive Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb coïncider

Subjonctif Passé (Subjunctive Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb coïncider

Subjonctif Imparfait (Subjunctive Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb coïncider

Subjonctif Plus-que-parfait (Subjunctive Pluperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb coïncider

Conditionnel Présent (Conditional Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb coïncider

Conditionnel Passé (Conditional Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb coïncider

Conditionnel Passé II (Conditional Past II) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb coïncider

L’impératif Présent (Imperative Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb coïncider

L’impératif Passé (Imperative Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb coïncider

L’infinitif Présent (Infinitive Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb coïncider

L’infinitif Passé (Infinitive Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb coïncider

Le Participe Présent (Present Participle) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb coïncider

Le Participe Passé (Past Participle) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb coïncider

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Coïncider – About the French Imparfait Tense

The French imparfait tense, often called the imperfect tense in English, is used to describe actions or states in the past. It’s primarily used to provide background information, set the scene, or describe habitual or ongoing actions in the past.

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

To form the imparfait tense in French, you typically take the present tense nous form of the verb, drop the -ons ending, and add specific endings based on the verb group (regular -er, -ir, -re verbs) or use irregular forms for certain verbs.  

For regular -er verbs:

Take the infinitive form (e.g., parler, finir, rendre) Remove the -er ending Add the imparfait endings: -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient 

For regular -ir verbs

Take the infinitive form (e.g., choisir, grandir, finir) Remove the -ir ending Add the imparfait endings: -issais, -issais, -issait, -issions, -issiez, -issaient 

For regular -re verbs

Take the infinitive form (e.g., vendre, attendre, entendre) Remove the -re ending Add the imparfait endings: -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient

Common Everyday Usage Patterns

Description of Past Habits

The imparfait is often used to describe habitual actions or situations in the past. For example: “Quand j’étais enfant, je jouais au football tous les jours.” (When I was a child, I used to play football every day.) 

Background Information

It’s used to provide background information or set the stage for a main event in the past. For instance: “Il faisait beau ce jour-là.” (The weather was nice that day.) 

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

The imparfait describes actions that were in progress or happening when something else occurred in the past. For instance: “Je lisais un livre quand le téléphone a sonné.” (I was reading a book when the phone rang.)

Points to Note About the Imparfait Tense

Passé Composé vs. Imparfait

The imparfait and passé composé (a compound past tense) are often used together to express the completion of an action in the past (passé composé) and provide context or background (imparfait). For example: “Il regardait la télévision quand son ami est arrivé.” (He was watching TV when his friend arrived.) 

Conditional

The imparfait is used as the base for forming the conditional mood in French. For instance, “Je mangerais” (I would eat) is formed from “je mangeais” (I was eating). 

Si Clauses

In hypothetical or “if” clauses (si clauses), the imparfait is often used to express a condition in the past. For example: “Si j’avais de l’argent, j’achèterais une nouvelle voiture.” (If I had money, I would buy a new car.) 

Narration

In storytelling or writing, the imparfait is frequently used to set the scene and describe ongoing actions while the passé composé is used for specific events or actions that interrupted the ongoing ones.
Understanding the French imperfect tense is crucial for effective communication in French. Without it, your conversations will always live in the present!

I hope you enjoyed this article on the verb coïncider. Still in a learning mood? Check out another TOTALLY random French verb imparfait conjugation!

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