j'étais
In French, "I was" is expressed as j'étais.
j'étais is used to describe ongoing states, background settings or habits in the past. For example, you can use it to state your condition: j'étais fatigué is the masculine form for "I was tired", while j'étais fatiguée is the feminine form for "I was tired".
What does it mean word for word?
The form j'étais is a contraction of je, meaning "I" and étais, meaning "was".
Which one should you use?
While j'étais describes a continuous state or background, the form j'ai été (passé composé) is used for a completed action or a specific event that occurred in the past.
Did you know?
- In spoken French, the sound of j'étais is often identical to j'était, il était and elle était, meaning the listener relies entirely on context to know who was being described.
- In very formal or literary French, je fus is used instead of j'étais to describe a precise, completed action in the past, a form almost never heard in daily conversation.
- When describing a past state, French speakers often use j'étais followed by a noun to describe a former profession, such as j'étais professeur, without needing an article like 'a'.
Examples in context
- J'étais à la rue.I was clueless.This sentence shows how to express being in a certain state or place, specifically using j'étais to mean being clueless.Tatoeba #5578715 by sacredceltic, translation #5017259 by Zurich899
- J'étais à la fête.I was at the party.This sentence uses j'étais to indicate a location in the past.Tatoeba #839252 by U2FS, translation #255368 by CK
- Que naïf j'étais !How naive I was!This sentence uses j'étais to express an exclamation about a past quality.Tatoeba #1379273 by sacredceltic, translation #13429083 by sundown
- J'étais à Paris hier soir.I was in Paris last night.
- Je me trouvais dans une réunion lorsque vous avez appelé.I was in a meeting when you called.
- J'étais tellement fatigué hier soir!I was so tired last night!
- 1654 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan and Léa are talking about their childhood.
- NathanJ'étais très timide quand j'étais petit.I was very shy when I was little.
- LéaMoi, j'étais très courageuse.Me, I was very brave.
- NathanC'est vrai, tu étais une petite fille forte.It's true, you were a strong little girl.
- LéaPeut-être, mais j'étais aussi très bavarde !Maybe, but I was also very talkative!
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
