j'aimais
The English phrase "I used to like" is translated into French as j'aimais.
This phrase is used to describe a preference, feeling or state that existed in the past but no longer holds true in the present.
Which one should you use?
While j'aimais is the standard way to express this, you can use J'aimais bien for a more informal tone or J'appréciais autrefois to express the same idea in a formal manner.
How does it change in a sentence?
This tense is used in French to express habitual actions or continuous states in the past.
Did you know?
- If you are talking about a person, saying je l'aimais can be interpreted as 'I was in love with them'. To avoid this romantic misunderstanding and clarify that you just 'used to like' them as a friend, you should say je l'aimais bien.
- The verb aimer is a linguistic cousin of the English word 'amorous', as both derive from the Latin 'amare', meaning 'to love'.
- The imperfect tense in j'aimais is often used by French writers to set a 'scenic' backdrop, acting like a camera zooming out before a main action begins.
Examples in context
- J'aimais aller au lac.I used to like to go to the lake.This example shows how to use j'aimais to describe a past habit of going somewhere.Tatoeba #13431989 by Rovo, translation #10549611 by shekitten
- J'aimais la musique folklorique.I used to like folk music.This example shows how to use j'aimais to express a past preference for a type of music.Tatoeba #2584813 by sacredceltic, translation #2544974 by CK
- J'aimais Boston.I used to like Boston.This example shows how to use j'aimais to express a past liking for a specific place.Tatoeba #5765104 by Thomz, translation #3148402 by CK
- J'appréciais autrefois la musique classique.I used to like classical music.
- J'aimais auparavant regarder des films français.I used to like watching French movies.
- J'adorais faire des randos en montagne.I used to like mountain hiking.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emma and Nathan are talking about their old hobbies in a cafe.
- EmmaJ'aimais beaucoup jouer au tennis.I used to like playing tennis a lot.
- NathanC'est vrai ? Tu ne joues plus ?Really? You don't play anymore?
- EmmaNon, j'ai plus le temps.No, I don't have the time anymore.
- NathanMoi, j'aimais aussi le sport.Me, I used to like sports too.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
