French grammar - Was going to - aller from the futur proche in the imparfait |
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As we have seen, the conjugated verb aller plus an infinitive forms the futur proche - 'to be going to (do something)'. Putting this aller in the imparfait is used to express an interrupted or uncompleted intention. -- English has the equivalent 'was going to (do something)'. Technically we are expressing the futur proche in the imparfait. In French this is called le futur proche dans le passé. |
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J'allais aller à la plage mais il a commencé à pleuvoir.
I was going to go to the beach but it started to rain. |
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Nous allions regarder un film mais je suis trop occupé.
We were going to watch a movie but I'm too busy. |
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Qu'allais-tu faire ?
What were you (familiar) going to do? |
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De quoi alliez-vous lui parler ?
What were you (formal) going to talk to him about? |
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Il allait faire les courses mais il a oublié.
He was going to go shopping but he forgot. |
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Tu lui as demandé ce qu'il allait faire ?
Did you (familiar) ask him what he was going to do? |
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Je me demandais comment il allait faire face.
I was wondering how he was going to cope.
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Je croyais que vous alliez changer de cravate.
I thought that you (formal) were going to change your tie. |
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Ils allaient fournir une chambre pour moi.
They were going to provide a room for me. |
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Il s'avère qu'ils n'allaient pas me le dire.
It turns out that they were not going to tell me (it). |
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Elle a dit qu'elle allait téléphoner au plombier.
She said that she was going to call the plumber. |
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Tu allais manquer ton train, c'est pour ça que tu as dû te dépêcher.
You (familiar) were going to miss your train, that's why you had to hurry. |
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Elle allait appeler la police !
She was going to call the police! |
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Vous alliez nous rejoindre. Avez-vous oublié ?
You (formal) were going to join us. Did you forget? |
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Je ne savais pas que tu allais dormir toute la journée.
I did not know that you (familiar) were going to sleep all day. |
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