Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compacter

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb compacter

Get the imperfect (imparfait) tense conjugation of compacter. 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 “compacter” is “to compact.” The infinitive form “compacter” is pronounced as “kom-pak-tey.”

The origin of the word “compacter” comes from the Latin word “compactare,” meaning “to join together.” In everyday French, “compacter” is commonly used to refer to the act of compressing or reducing the volume of something by applying pressure.

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

  1. Je compactais mes vêtements pour les mettre dans ma valise.
    (I used to compact my clothes to fit them in my suitcase.)

  2. Nous compactions les déchets avant de les jeter.
    (We used to compact the waste before throwing it away.)

  3. Vous compactiez le sol avec un rouleau compresseur.
    (You used to compact the ground with a road roller.)

Note: The imparfait tense in French is used to describe ongoing or repeated past actions, habits, or states of being.

Table of the Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of compacter

Pronoun Conjugation Short Example English Translation
je compactais Je compactais les déchets. I was compacting the trash.
tu compactais Tu compactais ton sac. You were compacting your bag.
il compactait Il compactait les documents. He was compacting the documents.
elle compactait Elle compactait la terre. She was compacting the soil.
on compactait On compactait les matériaux. We were compacting the materials.
nous compactions Nous compactions les débris. We were compacting the debris.
vous compactiez Vous compactiez les boîtes. You were compacting the boxes.
ils compactaient Ils compactaient les produits. They were compacting the products.
elles compactaient Elles compactaient les affaires. They were compacting the belongings.

Other Conjugations for Compacter.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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