Conjugation rule
Imperfect tense of -cer verbs (commencer)
Conjugation rule for the “-cer verbs” pattern.
Explanation
The stem is the infinitive without -er (commencer → commenc-). The endings added to it are -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient. A spelling change applies in the three singular persons and the third-person plural: the c takes a cedilla before o and a (commenc- → commenç-).
The pattern at a glance
The forms of commencer published for this tense, endings in colour.
- jecommençais
- tucommençais
- il/elle/oncommençait
- nouscommencions
- vouscommenciez
- ils/ellescommençaient
Examples
- je commençais
- nous commencions
- ils commençaient