French · Elementary (A2) · Chapter 5 of 12
Work and studies
Le travail et les études
Talk about your studies and past jobs, describe what things were like with the imparfait, and say how long with pendant and depuis.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- Say what you studied and where you worked
- Describe past situations and habits with the imparfait
- Choose between the imparfait and the passé composé
- Say how long with pendant and depuis
Listen
Amina Diallo has a job interview at a hotel in Clermont-Ferrand. The manager, Laurent Dubois, asks about her studies and her work. Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
Laurent
Bonjour, madame Diallo. Asseyez-vous. Alors, qu'est-ce que vous avez étudié ?
Hello, Ms Diallo. Please sit down. So, what did you study?
Amina
J'ai étudié le tourisme à Lyon pendant trois ans.
I studied tourism in Lyon for three years.
Laurent
Et après vos études ?
And after your studies?
Amina
J'ai travaillé dans un hôtel à Nice. J'étais réceptionniste.
I worked in a hotel in Nice. I was a receptionist.
Laurent
C'était comment ?
What was it like?
Amina
C'était très intéressant. Je parlais anglais et italien avec les clients tous les jours.
It was very interesting. I spoke English and Italian with the guests every day.
Laurent
Et pourquoi est-ce que vous êtes partie ?
And why did you leave?
Amina
Mon mari avait un nouveau travail ici, à Clermont. Alors, nous sommes venus en Auvergne.
My husband had a new job here, in Clermont. So we came to Auvergne.
Laurent
Je comprends. Et maintenant, qu'est-ce que vous faites ?
I see. And what do you do now?
Amina
Je travaille dans une agence de voyages depuis deux ans. Mais je préfère travailler dans un hôtel.
I've been working at a travel agency for two years. But I prefer working in a hotel.
Laurent
Très bien. Vous pouvez commencer quand ?
Very good. When can you start?
Amina
Le premier mars.
On 1 March.
Understand
The imparfait: what things were like
French has a second past tense, the (imperfect). It describes how things were: situations, feelings, the background of a story, and habits (“used to”): (It was interesting), (I spoke English every day).
To form it, take the form of the present, remove -ons, and add the endings -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient: gives . The only irregular verb is : . , , and all sound the same.
| Subject | () | () | |
|---|---|---|---|
| / / | |||
| / |
Imparfait or passé composé?
Use the passé composé for events: things that happened and are finished, once or for a set time. Use the imparfait for descriptions and habits: what things were like, or what used to happen.
In a story, the imparfait sets the scene and the passé composé moves the story forward: (I was a receptionist in Nice. One day my husband found a job in Clermont.)
| Passé composé: what happened | Imparfait: what it was like |
|---|---|
| (I worked in Nice.) | (I was a receptionist.) |
| (I left.) | (It was interesting.) |
| (We came here.) | (My husband had a new job.) |
| (One day I spoke with the manager.) | (I spoke English every day.) |
How long? pendant and depuis
+ a length of time says how long something lasted, usually with the passé composé: (I studied for three years, and it's finished).
+ a length of time, with the present, says how long something has been going on: (I've been working here for two years, and I still am). English uses “for” in both cases, so ask yourself: is it finished or not?
- Elle a habité à Nice pendant cinq ans.She lived in Nice for five years.
- J'habite à Clermont depuis deux ans.I've lived in Clermont for two years.
More in the grammar: The imparfait: describing the past · The passé composé: talking about the past
New words
- étudierto study
- pendantfor, during
- aprèsafter
- les étudesstudies
- le / la réceptionnistereceptionist
- j'étaisI was · imparfait of
- c'était comment ?what was it like?
- intéressant / intéressanteinteresting
- le client / la clientecustomer, guest
- pourquoi ?why?
- le marihusband · : wife, woman
- nouveau / nouvellenew · goes before the noun:
- maintenantnow
- l'agence de voyagestravel agency · feminine:
Practise
1.Complete the sentence about a habit: Quand j'étais petit, je ___ au foot tous les samedis. (When I was little, I used to play football every Saturday.)
2.Put in the imparfait: “I was a receptionist.”
I was a receptionist.
3.Complete with or : “I've been working here for two years.”
I've been working here for two years.
4.Which sentence tells you about a finished event?
5.Put the words in order.
Tap the words below in the right order.I studied tourism for three years.
6.Match the French with the English.
Pick a word on the left, then its meaning on the right.
0 of 6 exercises done.
Say it out loud
J'ai étudié le tourisme pendant trois ans.
I studied tourism for three years.
Listen, then say it out loud, as close to the recording as you can.
Check
Five questions on this chapter. Then mark it as finished to add its words to your review deck.
0 of 5 answered.