The Verb 'to be' in the Past (être - Imparfait)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use the Imparfait of 'être' to describe states, feelings, or ongoing situations in the past.
- Use the stem 'ét-' for all persons.
- Add the standard imparfait endings: -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient.
- Never use it for a single, completed action; use it for background descriptions.
Overview
The verb être (to be) is fundamental in French, and its conjugation in the Imparfait (imperfect past tense) is critical for constructing narratives, describing past states, and setting scenes. Unlike most verbs that follow a predictable pattern in the Imparfait, être is the sole exception, possessing an irregular stem. Mastering this irregularity is essential for fluent communication about past conditions and continuous states.
This Imparfait form of être allows you to express what something was like, what someone was, or how a situation was unfolding in the past, without focusing on a definite beginning or end. It paints a picture, providing background information, describing habitual past occurrences, or conveying emotions and characteristics over an undefined duration. Understanding its unique formation and usage is a cornerstone for describing the past with nuance.
This tense is crucial for developing descriptive prose and engaging in more complex narrative structures in French.
Conjugation Table
| Person | Conjugation | Pronunciation (approx.) | English Translation | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| :--------------- | :--------------- | :---------------------- | :------------------ | ||
| Je (I) | j'étais |
zhay-TAY | I was | ||
| Tu (You, inf.) | tu étais |
tew ay-TAY | You were | ||
| Il/Elle/On | il/elle/on était |
eel/ehl/on ay-TAY | He/She/One was | ||
| Nous (We) | nous étions |
noo ZAY-tyon | We were | ||
| Vous (You, f./pl.) | vous étiez |
voo ZAY-tyay | You were | ||
| Ils/Elles | ils/elles étaient |
eel/ehl ZAY-TAY | They were |
How This Grammar Works
Imparfait typically forms by taking the first person plural (nous) present tense form of a verb, dropping the -ons ending, and then adding the Imparfait endings. For example, parler -> nous parlons -> parl- + endings. However, être defies this pattern.nous present tense form is nous sommes. If we applied the standard rule, the stem would be somm-, which is incorrect for the Imparfait.Imparfait derives from the Latin imperfect tense. The Latin imperfect of esse (to be) was eram, eras, erat, eramus, eratis, erant. The French ét- stem is a direct evolution from these Latin forms, specifically influenced by the Latin erat.Imparfait formation rules that developed later for other verbs. The enduring influence of Latin on French grammar is a significant factor in such irregularities, providing a deeper understanding of verb morphology.être is an irregular verb in the Imparfait not out of arbitrary choice, but due to its ancient and direct connection to Latin roots. The é with the aigu accent (é) is crucial, indicating the historical vowel sound and differentiating it from other potential et forms. This irregularity is a key characteristic to remember, as it's the only verb that behaves this way in this tense.Imparfait.Formation Pattern
ét- stem, the Imparfait endings for être are entirely standard. This consistency makes it manageable once the initial hurdle of the stem is overcome. The pattern involves appending specific endings that are common to all Imparfait conjugations after deriving their stem, making the subsequent steps straightforward and predictable. The regularity of these endings across all verbs in the Imparfait is a testament to the systematic nature of French conjugation.
être, this is always ét-.
Imparfait endings: These endings are fixed and depend only on the subject pronoun. They are consistent across all Imparfait conjugations, making them a foundational element to memorize.
je | -ais | j'étais |
tu | -ais | tu étais |
il/elle/on | -ait | il/elle/on était |
nous | -ions | nous étions |
vous | -iez | vous étiez |
ils/elles | -aient | ils/elles étaient |
je, tu, il/elle/on, and ils/elles forms all sound like /ɛtɛ/. This means that context, or the preceding subject pronoun, is often vital for distinguishing between these forms in spoken French. For example, Il était tard (It was late) and Ils étaient fatigués (They were tired) sound identical, requiring the listener to rely on the subject il or ils for full comprehension. This homophony is a common feature in French, requiring careful attention to both spoken and written context.
When To Use It
Imparfait of être is used to describe past states, conditions, or characteristics that were ongoing, habitual, or existed without a defined beginning or end in the narrative. It provides context and background, answering the question "what was the situation?" rather than "what happened?". This makes it an indispensable tool for descriptive writing and conversational narration.- 1To Describe Past States or Qualities: This is the most prevalent use. You use
êtrein theImparfaitto portray how things, people, or situations were. These descriptions often set the mood or provide essential details about the environment or characters.
La maison était grande et pleine de lumière.(The house was big and full of light.) - describes a characteristic of a place, a static observation.J'étais très contente de mon voyage.(I was very happy with my trip.) - describes a lasting emotional state, implying it persisted throughout the trip.Le temps était magnifique hier après-midi.(The weather was magnificent yesterday afternoon.) - describes an atmospheric condition, not a sudden change.
- 1To Express Habitual Past Actions or Conditions ("Used to be"): When something regularly occurred or was true in the past, without emphasis on a single completion. This usage often implies a routine or a characteristic that was present over an extended period.
Quand j'étais enfant, j'étais très timide.(When I was a child, I used to be very shy.) - describes a past habitual characteristic, part of one's personality during childhood.Ils étaient toujours en retard pour nos réunions.(They were always late for our meetings.) - describes a past habit, indicating repeated occurrences over time.
- 1To Provide Background or Setting for a Narrative: Often used at the beginning of stories or to set the scene before a specific event (often expressed with the
Passé Composé). This establishes the context against which more dynamic actions unfold.
Il était minuit et tout le monde était endormi.(It was midnight and everyone was asleep.) - sets the time and general state of the scene before any specific event takes place.L'ambiance était lourde, personne ne parlait.(The atmosphere was heavy, no one was speaking.) - describes the mood and prevailing conditions, creating a sense of anticipation or tension.
- 1To Express Age (Descriptive Context): While
avoiris used for "to be X years old",êtrein theImparfaitis used to describe the state of being young or old in the past, or a specific stage of life. It characterizes a period rather than stating a numerical age.
Quand j'étais jeune, je rêvais de voyager.(When I was young, I dreamed of traveling.) - refers to a general period of life, using "young" as a descriptive characteristic.- Incorrect:
J'étais 20 ans.(I was 20 years old.) -> Correct:J'avais 20 ans.(I had 20 years). This distinction is crucial and a common point of error for learners.
- 1In Hypothetical
SiClauses (If... then...): At an A2 level, you might encounter simplesiclauses where theImparfaitofêtresets a hypothetical past condition. This structure is essential for expressing contrary-to-fact statements about the present.
Si j'étais plus riche, j'achèterais une grande maison.(If I were richer, I would buy a big house.) - a hypothetical condition in the present, but using theImparfaitto express unreality or improbability. This usage often pairs with the conditional tense in the main clause.
Common Mistakes
Imparfait of être. Awareness of these common errors, and understanding the reasons behind them, can significantly accelerate mastery and reduce misunderstandings. These are often rooted in transferring English grammatical structures directly to French.- 1Confusing
Imparfait(étais) withPassé Composé(ai été): This is the most frequent and impactful error, reflecting a misunderstanding of aspect. TheImparfaitdescribes a state or ongoing condition (imperfective), while thePassé Composéindicates a completed action or a change of state (perfective). Usingj'ai été tristeimplies a temporary, completed instance of sadness, whereasj'étais tristesuggests a continuous state of sadness over a period. This distinction is central to conveying precise meaning in past narratives.
- Example of error:
J'ai été malade tout le week-end.(This sounds like you became sick at some point over the weekend, but not that the sickness endured throughout, or that you were sick for a specific, very short duration.) - Correction:
J'étais malade tout le week-end.(I was sick all weekend.) - This clearly indicates a continuous state of illness over the entire weekend.
- 1Omitting the Aigu Accent on
é(et-instead ofét-): Writingetaisinstead ofétaisis a common spelling mistake. The accent is phonetically and grammatically significant, indicating a distinct vowel sound and distinguishing the verb form from other uses ofet(and). Without the accent,etaitcould be misinterpreted as a conjunction or part of a different word, leading to confusion.
- 1Incorrectly Applying Regular
ImparfaitRules toêtre: Some learners try to derive the stem fromnous sommes(e.g., attemptingsommais,sommait, etc.). This is fundamentally incorrect becauseêtrehas its uniqueét-stem derived from Latin, making it an exception to the general rule. Remember,êtreis the only verb that behaves this way in theImparfait.
- 1Misremembering Endings, especially for
ils/elles: A common spelling error isétaientsinstead ofétaient. While the-aientending is correct, learners sometimes mistakenly add an extras. Also, sometimes learners forget theiinnous étionsandvous étiez(e.g., writingétonsorétez), incorrectly forming hybrids between present and past tense structures.
- 1Forgetting Necessary Liaisons in Spoken French: While not a grammatical error per se, failing to make liaisons like
nous étions(noo ZAY-tyon) orils étaient(eel ZAY-TAY) can sound unnatural or even lead to misinterpretation in rapid speech, especially given the identical pronunciation ofje,tu,il,ilsforms. This phonetic omission can hinder fluidity and clarity in conversation.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
être in the past is the distinction between the Imparfait (j'étais) and the Passé Composé (j'ai été). This difference hinges on the aspect of the action or state – whether it is viewed as ongoing/habitual (imperfective aspect) or completed/punctual (perfective aspect). Understanding this aspectual difference is paramount for accurate and nuanced expression in French.Imparfait (j'étais) | Passé Composé (j'ai été) |J'étais fatigué. (I was tired - a state that persisted.) | J'ai été fatigué après le marathon. (I was tired after the marathon - a specific instance of tiredness that began and ended.) |Le ciel était bleu. (The sky was blue - a description.) | Le ciel a été couvert de nuages tout à coup. (The sky suddenly became covered with clouds - a change of state, an event.) |J'étais timide quand j'étais enfant.(I was shy when I was a child.) - Both uses ofétaisrefer to sustained, characteristic states over the period of childhood. This implies a general and enduring personality trait.J'ai été très surpris par son départ.(I was very surprised by his departure.) - Here,ai étéis used because the surprise is a specific, completed reaction to a single, punctual event (his departure). ThePassé Composéhighlights the occurrence of the surprise, not an ongoing state of surprise.
avoir l'habitude de). While j'étais can often imply "I used to be" for characteristics or states, explicit constructions like j'avais l'habitude d'être (I used to be accustomed to being) are sometimes used for stronger emphasis on the habitual nature. However, for simple past states or ongoing characteristics, j'étais is sufficient and more natural in most contexts.Real Conversations
In contemporary French, the Imparfait of être is ubiquitous in both formal and informal contexts, from casual chats to professional emails. Its role in setting the scene and conveying sustained states makes it indispensable for natural expression. It contributes significantly to the richness and nuance of spoken and written French, allowing for more detailed and vivid accounts of the past.
1. Casual Conversation/Texting: These examples illustrate how the Imparfait of être is used to quickly convey a past state or description in an informal setting.
- Hier soir, j'étais KO après le travail. C'était une longue journée. (Last night, I was exhausted after work. It was a long day.) - Expresses a state of being (KO) and a description (une longue journée) that prevailed.
- Quand t'étais petit, t'étais comment ? (When you were little, what were you like?) - A common conversational opener to inquire about past characteristics or habits during childhood.
- Le concert était génial, l'ambiance était folle ! (The concert was great, the atmosphere was crazy!) - Describing past qualities of an event, creating a vivid image for the listener.
2. Social Media Posts/Blogs: The Imparfait of être is perfect for nostalgic posts or descriptive reflections, allowing for a personal touch in online narratives.
- Souvenir de vacances : le soleil était au rendez-vous et la mer était si belle. (Vacation memory: the sun was present and the sea was so beautiful.) - Recalling past descriptive details, evoking a sensory memory.
- Retour en arrière : quand j'étais étudiante, la vie était plus simple. (Throwback: when I was a student, life was simpler.) - Reflecting on a past period of life, describing a general past condition.
3. Work Emails/Formal Contexts (e.g., reporting on a situation): Even in formal settings, être in the Imparfait is essential for providing background information or describing conditions that existed at a certain time.
- La situation financière de l'entreprise était délicate le mois dernier. (The company's financial situation was delicate last month.) - Reporting a past, ongoing condition, providing context for subsequent actions or decisions.
- Nous étions confiants dans nos prévisions, mais les événements imprévus ont modifié le cours des choses. (We were confident in our forecasts, but unforeseen events changed the course of things.) - Expressing a past state of mind or belief that was prevalent before a change occurred.
These examples demonstrate how être in the Imparfait serves to anchor past descriptions, emotions, and background information, allowing speakers to convey a rich sense of what was in diverse communicative contexts. Its versatile nature makes it a cornerstone of effective French communication.
Progressive Practice
Consistent and varied practice is key to internalizing the Imparfait of être and making its usage intuitive. Move beyond simple conjugations to active application in narrative and descriptive contexts, gradually increasing complexity. Deliberate practice, focusing on common pitfalls, will lead to mastery.
Conjugation Drills (Repetitive): Start by repeatedly conjugating être in the Imparfait for all pronouns, both orally and in writing. Focus intensely on the ét- stem and the correct endings. Pay particular attention to pronunciation nuances and liaisons, as these are critical for natural communication.
- Exercise: Recite j'étais, tu étais, il était, nous étions, vous étiez, ils étaient aloud several times daily.
Describing Past Scenarios (Descriptive Focus): Choose a past event (e.g., a vacation, a childhood memory, a past job). Write or speak several sentences describing the conditions, emotions, or setting using être in the Imparfait. Focus explicitly on what things were like, emphasizing background over action.
- Prompt: Décrivez votre premier jour d'école. Comment était l'ambiance ? Comment étiez-vous ? (Describe your first day of school. How was the atmosphere? How were you?)
- Example Response: J'étais un peu nerveux, mais les autres enfants étaient gentils. La classe était grande et colorée. (I was a bit nervous, but the other children were kind. The classroom was big and colorful.)
Narrative Building with Passé Composé (Contextualization): Practice combining the Imparfait of être for background with the Passé Composé for specific actions. This helps solidify the core distinction between setting the scene (Imparfait) and detailing events (Passé Composé).
- Prompt: Racontez une journée mémorable. Utilisez l'Imparfait pour les descriptions et le Passé Composé pour les actions. (Tell about a memorable day. Use the Imparfait for descriptions and the Passé Composé for actions.)
- Example Response: Il était tôt le matin et le soleil était déjà chaud. J'étais sur la plage quand j'ai vu un dauphin. (It was early morning and the sun was already warm. I was on the beach when I saw a dolphin.)
Picture Description (Visual Immersion): Find an old photograph (e.g., from your childhood, a historical image). Describe it entirely in French, focusing on using être in the Imparfait to talk about the people, objects, and overall atmosphere in the picture at that past moment. This exercise trains your descriptive abilities.
- Sentence starters: Sur la photo, il était..., Les gens étaient..., L'expression de mon visage était...
Journaling/Dialogue Simulation (Active Production): Keep a daily journal entry describing your past day, or invent short dialogues where characters recall past situations. Consciously integrate être in the Imparfait where appropriate. This pushes you to actively produce the language in meaningful contexts.
- Dialogue idea: Two friends discussing a past event: "Tu te souviens de notre voyage en Italie ? Rome était incroyable !" "Oui, et la nourriture était délicieuse ! J'étais si heureuse là-bas."
Quick FAQ
Imparfait of être, providing concise yet thorough clarifications.être the only irregular verb in the Imparfait?Être holds a unique position as the sole irregular verb in the Imparfait. This means its stem (ét-) deviates from the standard formation rule (taking the nous present tense form and dropping -ons).Imparfait pattern once their stem is identified. This simplifies the overall rule for the vast majority of verbs.j'étais, tu étais, il était, and ils étaient in spoken French?je, tu, il, elle, on, ils, elles) that precedes the verb. For instance, hearing Il était signals a singular masculine subject, while Ils étaient indicates a plural masculine subject.j'étais always translate to "I used to be"?j'étais can certainly convey the meaning of "I used to be" when describing habitual past states or characteristics (e.g., J'étais végétarien - "I used to be vegetarian"), it also frequently translates simply as "I was" for continuous past states that were not necessarily habitual (e.g., J'étais fatigué - "I was tired"). The precise nuance depends on the context provided by the rest of the sentence. If explicit emphasis on habit is needed, j'avais l'habitude d'être can be used, though j'étais is often sufficient.j'étais and j'ai été?j'étais (Imparfait) describes a state or condition as ongoing, continuous, habitual, or descriptive in the past, without a definite beginning or end. It paints a picture or sets the scene (imperfective aspect). In contrast, j'ai été (Passé Composé) describes a state or condition as a completed event or a specific, punctual instance in the past, often implying a clear beginning or end, or a reaction to an event (perfective aspect).J'étais answers "What was the situation like?"; j'ai été answers "What happened?".Imparfait of être?Imparfait, particularly of être, is deeply ingrained in French storytelling and descriptive language. Its pervasive use allows for the creation of rich, immersive narratives, providing emotional depth, atmosphere, and background. Its presence in classic phrases like Il était une fois... ("Once upon a time...") underscores its foundational role in initiating tales and evoking a sense of past reality, nostalgia, or historical context.Imparfait of Être
| Subject | Stem | Ending | Full Form |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Je
|
ét
|
ais
|
j'étais
|
|
Tu
|
ét
|
ais
|
tu étais
|
|
Il/Elle/On
|
ét
|
ait
|
il était
|
|
Nous
|
ét
|
ions
|
nous étions
|
|
Vous
|
ét
|
iez
|
vous étiez
|
|
Ils/Elles
|
ét
|
aient
|
ils étaient
|
Meanings
The imparfait of 'être' describes a state of being, a condition, or a continuous situation that existed in the past.
Descriptive State
Describing how someone or something was over a period of time.
“Il était grand.”
“La maison était bleue.”
Ongoing Situation
Setting the background scene for another action.
“Il était tard quand il est arrivé.”
“J'étais en train de manger.”
Habitual Past
Describing how things used to be.
“Avant, j'étais timide.”
“Nous étions souvent ensemble.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
S + ét + ending
|
J'étais là.
|
|
Negative
|
S + ne + ét + ending + pas
|
Je n'étais pas là.
|
|
Question (Inv)
|
Ét + ending + S?
|
Étiez-vous là?
|
|
Question (Est-ce)
|
Est-ce que + S + ét + ending?
|
Est-ce qu'il était là?
|
|
Short Answer
|
Oui/Non + S + ét + ending
|
Oui, j'étais là.
|
|
Reflexive (N/A)
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Formality Spectrum
Il était heureux. (Describing a person)
Il était content. (Describing a person)
Il était super content. (Describing a person)
Il était grave content. (Describing a person)
Uses of Imparfait
States
- J'étais heureux I was happy
Habits
- Nous étions ensemble We were together
Descriptions
- Il était grand He was tall
Examples by Level
J'étais à la maison.
I was at home.
Il était gentil.
He was kind.
Nous étions fatigués.
We were tired.
C'était bon.
It was good.
Je n'étais pas prêt pour l'examen.
I was not ready for the exam.
Étiez-vous au cinéma hier ?
Were you at the cinema yesterday?
La voiture était rouge.
The car was red.
Ils étaient très occupés.
They were very busy.
Quand j'étais enfant, j'étais timide.
When I was a child, I was shy.
Il était tard, donc nous sommes rentrés.
It was late, so we went home.
Elle était en train de lire quand je suis arrivé.
She was reading when I arrived.
Nous étions heureux de vous voir.
We were happy to see you.
Si j'étais riche, j'achèterais une maison.
If I were rich, I would buy a house.
Le ciel était sombre, ce qui annonçait l'orage.
The sky was dark, which announced the storm.
Ils étaient censés arriver à huit heures.
They were supposed to arrive at eight.
C'était la première fois qu'il voyait la mer.
It was the first time he saw the sea.
Il était une fois un roi qui était très sage.
Once upon a time there was a king who was very wise.
Bien qu'il fût tard, il était déterminé à finir.
Although it was late, he was determined to finish.
C'était comme si le temps était suspendu.
It was as if time were suspended.
Elle était d'une beauté qui était difficile à décrire.
She was of a beauty that was hard to describe.
L'atmosphère était telle qu'on était presque intimidé.
The atmosphere was such that one was almost intimidated.
Il était, disait-on, le plus grand de son époque.
He was, it was said, the greatest of his era.
C'était là que tout était arrivé.
It was there that everything had happened.
Nous étions loin de nous douter de ce qui était à venir.
We were far from suspecting what was to come.
Easily Confused
Learners use PC for descriptions.
Mixing up the stems.
Mixing up timeframes.
Common Mistakes
J'ai été fatigué.
J'étais fatigué.
Il estait grand.
Il était grand.
Nous étions content.
Nous étions contents.
J'étais manger.
J'étais en train de manger.
Était-il là ?
Était-il là ?
Ils étions là.
Ils étaient là.
J'étais allé.
J'étais là.
Quand j'ai été petit...
Quand j'étais petit...
Il était arrivé quand...
Il était là quand...
Si j'ai été riche...
Si j'étais riche...
Il était, dis-je, le meilleur.
Il était, disais-je, le meilleur.
C'était comme si il était...
C'était comme s'il était...
Elle était d'une beauté qui a été...
Elle était d'une beauté qui était...
Sentence Patterns
Quand j'étais ___, j'étais ___.
C'était ___.
Nous étions ___ à la maison.
Si j'étais ___, je serais ___.
Real World Usage
C'était une super soirée !
J'étais en retard.
J'étais responsable de l'équipe.
L'hôtel était très bien situé.
La pizza était froide.
Il était une fois...
The 'ét' rule
Don't use PC
Context is key
Nostalgia
Smart Tips
Always use imparfait.
Use imparfait for the background.
Use 'Quand j'étais...'.
Use imparfait for the condition.
Pronunciation
The 'ét' sound
The 'é' is a closed 'e' sound, like in 'café'.
Ending pronunciation
-ais, -ait, -aient all sound like 'è' (/ɛ/).
Rising for questions
Étiez-vous là? ↗
Yes/No question
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Remember 'ET' like the movie character—he was always somewhere else in the past.
Visual Association
Imagine a movie projector playing a film of your childhood. Everything you see on that screen uses the 'ét-' stem because it's a continuous memory.
Rhyme
For 'être' in the past, use 'ét' and make it last.
Story
When I was a child (J'étais petit), I was always happy (j'étais heureux). My friends were (ils étaient) with me. We were (nous étions) outside all day.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 5 sentences describing your room as a child using 'La chambre était...'.
Cultural Notes
The imparfait is used heavily in literature to set the scene.
Often used in casual speech to describe past states.
Similar usage, often combined with local particles.
Derived from Latin 'eram, eras, erat'.
Conversation Starters
Comment étais-tu quand tu étais petit ?
Où étiez-vous hier soir ?
Comment était ton école ?
Si tu étais riche, que ferais-tu ?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Je ___ (être) content.
Nous ___ (être) fatigués.
Find and fix the mistake:
Il étions là.
là / j' / étais / hier
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Vous ___ (être) là.
J'ai été fatigué is for descriptions.
A: Comment ___ le film ? B: C'était bien.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesJe ___ (être) content.
Nous ___ (être) fatigués.
Find and fix the mistake:
Il étions là.
là / j' / étais / hier
Tu / Ils
Vous ___ (être) là.
J'ai été fatigué is for descriptions.
A: Comment ___ le film ? B: C'était bien.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesTu ___ très fatigué après le sport.
Le film étaient trop long.
étions / Nous / à / hier / l'école
I was happy.
Vous ___ en vacances en Italie ?
Match the following:
La météo ___ parfaite pour le pique-nique.
J'étais dix ans.
They were late.
très / Elle / hier / était / triste
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
It is always 'étions'. The stem is 'ét-'.
Yes, but only for completed events, not descriptions.
Yes, it is the only one with this stem.
Use it to set the background scene.
No, it is used in all registers.
Add 'ne' and 'pas' around the verb.
Use the 'il/elle' form.
No, the stem is very consistent.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Imperfecto (era)
Spanish drops the subject pronoun more often.
Präteritum (war)
German has fewer person-based endings.
Past Continuous/Simple (was)
English lacks a dedicated aspectual past tense.
Past tense (datta)
No person conjugation in Japanese.
Kana (kuntu)
Arabic uses a different root system.
Particle 'le' or 'zai'
No verb conjugation in Chinese.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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