J'avais l'habitude de
The English phrase "I used to" can be translated into French as J'avais l'habitude de.
This phrase describes a habit or a state that existed in the past but no longer exists now.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase J'avais l'habitude de literally means "I had the habit of" (the component l'habitude means "the habit").
How does it change in a sentence?
To express "I used to [verb]", you must follow J'avais l'habitude de with an infinitive verb.
Did you know?
- The word habitude is a close relative of the English word 'habit'. Both stem from the Latin habitus, which originally referred to a person's physical build or attire.
- If you want to say 'I am getting used to', you use the verb s'habituer. This reflexive form shifts the meaning from possessing a habit to the process of adapting.
- While J'avais l'habitude de is a direct translation, French speakers often simply use the imparfait tense to express 'I used to'. For example, Je mangeais can mean both 'I was eating' and 'I used to eat'.
Examples in context
- J'avais l'habitude de tenir un journal.I used to keep a diary.This sentence is useful for showing how to use the phrase with the verb tenir.Tatoeba #352331 by Barbiche0, translation #252215 by CK
- Enfant, j'avais l'habitude de jouer seul.I used to play alone when I was a child.This sentence shows how to use the phrase when discussing one's childhood.Tatoeba #483305 by sacredceltic, translation #245849 by CM
- J'avais l'habitude de manger de la viande.I used to eat meat.This sentence demonstrates the phrase used with the verb manger.Tatoeba #9973181 by Rovo, translation #5859326 by CK
- 16 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are reminiscing about their old school days in a café.
- NathanJ'avais l'habitude de courir tous les matins.I used to run every morning.
- ManonC'est vrai ? Tu étais très sportif, Nathan.Is that true? You were very athletic, Nathan.
- NathanOui, mais maintenant je n'ai plus le temps.Yes, but now I don't have the time anymore.
- ManonMoi, j'avais l'habitude de lire beaucoup de livres.As for me, I used to read a lot of books.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
