Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb dropper

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb dropper

Get the imperfect (imparfait) tense conjugation of dropper. 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 “dropper” is “to drop” or “to abandon.” The infinitive form, “dropper,” is pronounced as [dʁɔ.pe] in French.

The word “dropper” originates from the French word “drop,” which means “to let fall” or “to abandon.” It is often used in everyday French in the imparfait tense to express actions or states in the past that were ongoing or habitual.

Examples in the imparfait tense:

  1. J’abandonnais mes études pour voyager. (I used to drop my studies to travel.)
  2. Ils laissaient souvent tomber leurs affaires par terre. (They used to often drop their belongings on the floor.)
  3. Tu abandonnais toujours tes projets en cours. (You always used to drop your ongoing projects.)

English translations:

  1. I used to drop my studies to travel.
  2. They used to often drop their belongings on the floor.
  3. You always used to drop your ongoing projects.

Table of the Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of dropper

Pronoun Conjugation Short Example English Translation
je droppais Je droppais le ballon. I was dropping the ball.
tu droppais Tu droppais ton sac. You were dropping your bag.
il droppait Il droppait la balle. He was dropping the ball.
elle droppait Elle droppait le livre. She was dropping the book.
on droppait On droppait les cartes. We were dropping the cards.
nous droppions Nous droppions les clés. We were dropping the keys.
vous droppiez Vous droppiez les affaires. You were dropping the belongings.
ils droppaient Ils droppaient les bagages. They were dropping the luggage.
elles droppaient Elles droppaient les valises. They were dropping the suitcases.

Other Conjugations for Dropper.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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