THE PAST T EN SES IN FRENCH

The English praeterite being the équivalent of three tenses io French, it is of the utmost importance that a clear idea of the shades of meaning conveyed by the latter should be firmly possessed.

WHENEVER REPETITION OF THE ACTION IS IM- PLIED the imparfait is used.

The force, in English, is " used to . . .," " kept . . . -ing," etc. E.g., Esth. 1. 6: m'aidais à soupirer . . . "wast wont to sigh with me."