Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb développer

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb développer

Get the imperfect (imparfait) tense conjugation of développer. 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 “développer” is “to develop.” The infinitive form “développer” is pronounced as “day-vo-loh-pey.”

The word “développer” comes from the Latin word “dēvolūtāre,” meaning “to unroll.” Its origin is linked to the concept of unrolling a scroll or opening up a document. In modern French, “développer” is primarily used to express the action of developing something, such as an idea, a project, or a photograph.

In the imparfait tense, “développer” is used to describe a continuous or ongoing action in the past. It is often used to set the scene, provide background information, or describe habitual actions in the past. Here are three examples of its usage in the imparfait tense:

  1. Je développais mes compétences en informatique. (I was developing my computer skills.)
  2. Nous développions un nouveau produit chaque mois. (We were developing a new product every month.)
  3. Elle développait ses photos dans sa chambre noire. (She used to develop her photos in her darkroom.)

Note: The English translations provided may vary based on context.

Table of the Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of développer

Pronoun Conjugation Short Example English Translation
je développais Je développais un projet. I was developing a project.
tu développais Tu développais tes compétences. You were developing your skills.
il développait Il développait une nouvelle technologie. He was developing a new technology.
elle développait Elle développait une entreprise. She was developing a business.
on développait On développait de nouvelles idées. We were developing new ideas.
nous développions Nous développions notre produit. We were developing our product.
vous développiez Vous développiez vos connaissances. You were developing your knowledge.
ils développaient Ils développaient des logiciels. They were developing software.
elles développaient Elles développaient des compétences artistiques. They were developing artistic skills.

Other Conjugations for Développer.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Struggling with French verbs or the language in general? Why not use our free French Grammar Checker – no registration required!

Get a FREE Download Study Sheet of this Conjugation 🔥

Simply right click the image below, click “save image” and get your free reference for the développer imparfait tense conjugation! 

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

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply