L’imparfait The French imperfect tense (imparfait) is a descriptive past tense that indicates an ongoing state of being or a repeated or incomplete action. The beginning and end of the state of being or action are not indicated, and the imperfect is very often translated in English as “was” or “was ___-ing”. We use the imperfect tense to describe situations, people, properties, comments, explanations, repeated actions, and simultaneously occurring actions in the past....

accueillir qn à bras ouverts to welcome sb with open arms Quand je suis arrivé à l’aéroport, ma famille d’accueil m’a accueilli à bras ouverts et m’a emmené chez eux. When I arrived at the airport, my host family welcomed me with open arms and took me to their home. Apprends à coder et les entreprises t’accueilleront les bras ouverts ! Learn to code and companies will welcome you with open arms....

Reserving a table If you want to reserve a table, you can say (“I would like to reserve a table for two people”) Je voudrais réserver une table pour deux personnes. You can also specify the time of your arrival by saying (“We’ll arrive at 7pm”) On arrive à dix-neuf heures. If you want a table near the window or on the terrace, you can say (“I would like a table on the terrace/near the window”)...

grand great, eminent main, principal La grande difficulté est de trouver une salle assez grande. The main difficulty is finding a room that is big enough. faire la connaissance de quelqu’un to meet somebody j’ai fait la connaissance d’autres gens comme moi I made the acquaintance of other people like me J’ai fait la connaissance de son frère. I met her brother. en définitive eventually / in the end (in the final analysis / all things considered)...

environs les environs de the area round aux environs de (de lieu) in the area around aux environs de (d’heure) around aux environs de dix-neuf heures around 7 p.m. aux environs de minuit around midnight dans les environs in the area, in the vicinity depuis peu / depuis longtemps Je la connais depuis peu. I have not known her for long. / I have known her for only a short time....