quand j'étais
The English phrase "when I was" is translated into French as quand j'étais.
This phrase is used to introduce a description of a state or condition in the speaker's past.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of quand (when), je (I) and étais (the imperfect form of être, meaning was).
Which one should you use?
quand j'étais is used to describe a continuous state or background setting. In contrast, quand j'ai été (passé composé) would imply a completed, specific event or a bounded period of time.
Did you know?
- French speakers often use the phrase quand j'étais petit (when I was small) to mean 'when I was a child', regardless of their actual physical height at the time.
- While quand j'étais is common in speech, formal written French often replaces quand with lorsque to avoid a repetitive 'k' sound in a sentence.
- The word quand shares a common ancestor with the English word 'when' through the Latin quandō, making them distant linguistic cousins.
Examples in context
- Je fumais quand j'étais jeune.I did smoke when I was young.This sentence shows how to use quand j'étais to describe a past habit.Tatoeba #6359 by Archibald, translation #258425 by CK
- J'adorais lire quand j'étais petit.I loved reading when I was a child.This sentence uses quand j'étais to describe a past state or preference.Tatoeba #332400 by TRANG, translation #257978 by CK
- Quand j'étais petit, j'étais blond.When I was little, I was blonde.This sentence uses quand j'étais to describe a physical characteristic in the past.Tatoeba #11223809 by lbdx, translation #3120527 by CM
- Quand j'étais enfant, j'adorais jouer au football.When I was a child, I loved playing football.
- Lorsque j'étais à Paris, j'ai visité la Tour Eiffel.When I was in Paris, I visited the Eiffel Tower.
- À l'époque où j'étais étudiant, j'étudiais la physique.At the time when I was a student, I studied physics.
- Quand j'avais ton âge, je passais beaucoup de temps avec mes amis.When I was your age, I spent a lot of time with my friends.
- À l'époque, j'étais fan de musique rock.At the time, I was a fan of rock music.
- 151 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Léa are talking about their childhood hobbies.
- LucasQuand j'étais enfant, j'aimais beaucoup le dessin.When I was a child, I liked drawing a lot.
- LéaMoi aussi, quand j'étais petite, je dessinais tout le temps.Me too, when I was little, I drew all the time.
- LucasC'était une époque plus calme.It was a calmer time.
- LéaOui, c'est vrai.Yes, that's true.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries quand, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
