Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb cravacher

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb cravacher

Get the imperfect (imparfait) tense conjugation of cravacher. 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 “cravacher” is “to whip” or “to drive hard.” In phonetic transcription, the infinitive form “cravacher” is pronounced as [kʁa.va.ʃe].

The word “cravacher” originates from the noun “cravache,” which means “whip” in French. It is derived from the Latin word “cravatia,” meaning “cord,” which is also the origin of the word “cravat” in English. In everyday French, “cravacher” is often used in the imparfait tense to describe the action of exerting oneself, working hard, or putting in great effort.

Here are three examples of using “cravacher” in the imparfait tense, along with their English translations:

  1. Je cravachais pour finir mon projet à temps.
    (I was working hard to finish my project on time.)

  2. Nous cravachions toute la journée dans les champs.
    (We were toiling all day in the fields.)

  3. Elle cravachait dur pour réussir ses examens.
    (She was pushing herself hard to pass her exams.)

Note: The translations provided here are not literal translations but convey the meaning of the sentences in English.

Table of the Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of cravacher

Pronoun Conjugation Short Example English Translation
je cravachais Je cravachais pour finir le projet. I was working hard to finish the project.
tu cravachais Tu cravachais pour réussir tes examens. You were working hard to pass your exams.
il cravachait Il cravachait pour gagner sa vie. He was working hard to earn a living.
elle cravachait Elle cravachait pour atteindre ses objectifs. She was working hard to achieve her goals.
on cravachait On cravachait pour terminer le travail à temps. We were working hard to finish the job on time.
nous cravachions Nous cravachions pour améliorer nos compétences. We were working hard to improve our skills.
vous cravachiez Vous cravachiez pour obtenir de bons résultats. You were working hard to get good results.
ils cravachaient Ils cravachaient pour terminer le projet. They were working hard to finish the project.
elles cravachaient Elles cravachaient pour réussir leurs examens. They were working hard to pass their exams.

Other Conjugations for Cravacher.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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