Today's VERBcast is an important one. It's time to introduce a new tense, and we're covering quite important concepts today which you really need to understand. Hope you find the podcast useful.
On today's show
In episode 11 we're introducing the Imperfect tense, and the ideas behind it. We'll talk you through how it's used, and in particular the difference between the perfect and imperfect tenses. We'll give examples using a regular -er verb in the imperfect: parler
Downloads:
VERBcast 11 High quality (broaband users)
VERBcast 11 Low quality (dialup users)
The teacher was shouting at us when the firebell rang.
I was eating my dinner when I dropped my fork.
I was on the train when my dad phoned.
I was sleeping when my alarm went off.
Posted by: Andrea | April 29, 2006 at 10:04 PM
I was cleaning the fish tank when the verb pouvoir in the present tense interupted my thoughts.
They were eating lunch when I arrived.
While he was doing his exam, the girl laughed loudly.
You were working hard when they called for you.
Posted by: Anna | April 29, 2006 at 10:40 PM
Oh and I forgot to mention that I was in my room, drying my hair when I got the verbcast message this morning!(not random, we were asked in the message this morning!)
Posted by: Anna | April 29, 2006 at 10:43 PM
Lol - liked your first example, Anna! Is it true? From your post on "Verbs everywhere" I think it may well be true! Hope your fish enjoyed the performance of pouvoir! Which tense did you perform it in? ;)
Posted by: Mark | April 29, 2006 at 10:44 PM
The present although they got very enthusiastic and asked me to do it in the perfect tense. Luckily, thanks to the verbcast I could, phew!Lol
Posted by: Anna | April 30, 2006 at 05:22 PM
I like it Anna!
Posted by: Vivien | April 30, 2006 at 06:07 PM
I was out riding when it started to rain.
The sun was shining when he went out for a walk.
They were watching tv when their mum called them for dinner.
We were eating popcorn when the film started.
:)
Posted by: Alison | April 30, 2006 at 09:45 PM
Well done Alison.
Posted by: Vivien | May 01, 2006 at 08:00 AM
I was studying when the phone rang.
She was singing when her friend came.
We were laughing when the bell rang.
He was playing video games when the electricity went out.
Posted by: Tamsin | May 01, 2006 at 12:39 PM
Good stuff, Tamsin. You've obviously understood one of the uses of the imperfect well.
Posted by: Mark Pentleton | May 01, 2006 at 12:42 PM
i was speaking with my friends when the bell rang.
i was writing my essay when my pencil broke.
i was watching the t.v when the phone rang.
he was sitting on the couch when his mobile rang.
Posted by: Scott Mcglynn | November 06, 2006 at 08:20 PM
je parlais avec ma mere quand je suis regarde la tele
Posted by: Scott Mcglynn | November 06, 2006 at 08:23 PM