Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couler
Introduction to the verb couler
The English translation of the French verb “couler” is “to flow” or “to run.” The infinitive form “couler” is pronounced as “koo-leh.”
The verb “couler” in French originated from the Latin word “colāre,” meaning “to strain.” It is primarily used to describe the movement of a liquid, but it can also be used figuratively to describe other forms of flow or movement.
In everyday French, the verb “couler” is often used in the imparfait tense to refer to ongoing or habitual actions in the past. Here are three examples of its usage:
-
Chaque matin, l’eau coulait doucement dans la rivière.
Translation: Every morning, the water flowed gently in the river. -
Quand j’étais enfant, mes larmes coulaient souvent à cause des films tristes.
Translation: When I was a child, my tears would often flow because of sad movies. -
Pendant la réunion, le temps coulait lentement.
Translation: During the meeting, time was flowing slowly.
These examples showcase the use of “couler” in the imparfait tense to describe ongoing actions or states in the past.
Table of the Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of couler
Pronoun | Conjugation | Short Example | English Translation |
---|---|---|---|
je | coulais | Je coulais le béton. | I was pouring the concrete. |
tu | coulais | Tu coulais de l’eau. | You were pouring water. |
il | coulait | Il coulait du métal. | He was melting metal. |
elle | coulait | Elle coulait de la cire. | She was melting wax. |
on | coulait | On coulait du plomb. | We were melting lead. |
nous | coulions | Nous coulions du bronze. | We were casting bronze. |
vous | couliez | Vous couliez de l’argent. | You were pouring silver. |
ils | coulaient | Ils coulaient du verre. | They were melting glass. |
elles | coulaient | Elles coulaient du chocolat. | They were melting chocolate. |
Other Conjugations for Couler.
Le Present (Present Tense) Conjugation of the French Verb couler
Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couler (You’re reading it right now!)
Passé Simple (Simple Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couler
Passé Composé (Present Perfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couler
Futur Simple (Simple Future) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couler
Futur Proche (Near Future) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couler
Plus-que-parfait (Pluperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couler
Passé Antérieur (Past Anterior) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couler
Futur Antérieur (Future Anterior) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couler
Subjonctif Présent (Subjunctive Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couler
Subjonctif Passé (Subjunctive Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couler
Subjonctif Imparfait (Subjunctive Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couler
Subjonctif Plus-que-parfait (Subjunctive Pluperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couler
Conditionnel Présent (Conditional Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couler
Conditionnel Passé (Conditional Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couler
Conditionnel Passé II (Conditional Past II) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couler
L’impératif Présent (Imperative Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couler
L’impératif Passé (Imperative Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couler
L’infinitif Présent (Infinitive Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couler
L’infinitif Passé (Infinitive Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couler
Le Participe Présent (Present Participle) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couler
Le Participe Passé (Past Participle) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couler
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Couler – 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 couler. Still in a learning mood? Check out another TOTALLY random French verb imparfait conjugation!