Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb coltiner

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb coltiner

Get the imperfect (imparfait) tense conjugation of coltiner. 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 “coltiner” is “to lug” or “to carry around.” The infinitive form is pronounced as “kohl-tee-neh.”

The word “coltiner” originated from the word “coltin,” which refers to a shoulder strap used for carrying heavy loads. It is derived from the Latin word “collicare,” meaning “to attach.”

In everyday French, “coltiner” is commonly used in the imparfait tense to describe past habitual actions or ongoing actions in the past. It can also express the idea of enduring or bearing a burden.

Here are three simple examples of “coltiner” in the imparfait tense with their English translations:

  1. Je coltinai mes affaires tous les jours. (I used to lug around my belongings every day.)
  2. Nous coltinions nos sacs à dos pendant le trek. (We were lugging our backpacks during the hike.)
  3. Il coltinait les provisions jusqu’au sommet de la montagne. (He was lugging the provisions to the top of the mountain.)

Please note that these translations may vary depending on the context and intended meaning of the sentence.

Table of the Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of coltiner

Pronoun Conjugation Short Example English Translation
je coltinais Je coltinais les sacs lourds. I used to carry the heavy bags.
tu coltinais Tu coltinais tes responsabilités. You used to shoulder your responsibilities.
il coltinait Il coltinait son sac à dos. He used to lug his backpack.
elle coltinait Elle coltinait les courses. She used to haul the groceries.
on coltinait On coltinait nos valises. We used to lug our suitcases.
nous coltinions Nous coltinions les cartons. We used to carry the boxes.
vous coltiniez Vous coltiniez les meubles. You used to haul the furniture.
ils coltinaient Ils coltinaient leurs affaires. They used to carry their belongings.
elles coltinaient Elles coltinaient les sacs de provisions. They used to haul the bags of groceries.

Other Conjugations for Coltiner.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Coltiner – 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 coltiner. Still in a learning mood? Check out another TOTALLY random French verb imparfait conjugation!

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