Aller In The Past Tense

Aller in the Past Tense: A Comprehensive Guide

The French verb aller (to go) is notoriously irregular, and its past tense conjugations can be tricky for learners. This comprehensive guide will break down the past tense of aller, including its various forms and common usage, helping you master this essential verb. Understanding the nuances of aller in the past tense is crucial for constructing accurate and fluent French sentences. This article will cover the passé composé, the imparfait, and even touch upon less commonly used past tenses, providing clear explanations and examples to solidify your understanding.

Understanding the French Past Tenses

Before diving into the specifics of aller, let's briefly review the common French past tenses. French utilizes different past tenses to express different aspects of the past action:

• Passé Composé: This is the most frequently used past tense, generally translating to the simple past in English. It describes completed actions in the past. It's formed using an auxiliary verb (usually avoir or être) and the past participle of the main verb.

• Imparfait: This tense describes ongoing actions, habitual actions, or descriptions in the past. Think of it as the "imperfect" past, focusing on the state of being rather than completed actions.

• Plus-que-parfait: This is the pluperfect tense, indicating an action completed before another action in the past.

• Passé Simple: While less common in spoken French, the passé simple is often found in literary texts and formal writing. It represents a completed action in the past, similar to the passé composé.

Aller in the Passé Composé

The passé composé of aller is formed using the auxiliary verb être (to be) and the past participle allé (gone). This is a key difference from most verbs, which use avoir. Because aller uses être, the past participle allé agrees in gender and number with the subject.

Here's the conjugation:

Notice the agreement of the past participle:

• allé is used for masculine singular subjects (e.g., il est allé).
• allée is used for feminine singular subjects (e.g., elle est allée).
• allés is used for masculine plural subjects (e.g., ils sont allés).
• allées is used for feminine plural subjects (e.g., elles sont allées).

Examples:

• Je suis allé au cinéma hier soir. (I went to the cinema last night.)
• Elle est allée à Paris en vacances. (She went to Paris on vacation.)
• Nous sommes allés à la plage. (We went to the beach.)

Aller in the Imparfait

The imparfait of aller is relatively straightforward compared to the passé composé. It follows a regular pattern for irregular verbs.

Examples:

• Nous allions souvent au parc le dimanche. (We often went to the park on Sundays.)
• Elle allait à l'école en bus. (She used to go to school by bus.)
• Il allait travailler chaque jour, même s'il était malade. (He would go to work every day, even if he was sick.)

The imparfait emphasizes the habitual or ongoing nature of the action, contrasting with the completed action described by the passé composé.

Aller in the Plus-que-parfait

The plus-que-parfait of aller, like other verbs using être, requires agreement of the past participle. It is formed using the imparfait of être and the past participle allé(e)(s)(es).

Examples:

• J'étais allé au magasin avant de rentrer à la maison. (I had gone to the store before going home.)
• Elle était allée au médecin parce qu'elle ne se sentait pas bien. (She had gone to the doctor because she didn't feel well.)

Aller in the Passé Simple (Literary Use)

The passé simple of aller is less frequently encountered in modern spoken French but appears in literature and formal writing. Its conjugation is:

This tense provides a more dramatic and concise way of narrating past events, often adding a literary flair.

Common Expressions with Aller in the Past Tense

Certain expressions using aller in the past tense are particularly common and deserve special attention:

• Être allé(e) + infinitive: This construction means "to have gone to" or "to have gone + verb." For example: Je suis allé chercher du pain (I went to get some bread).

• Aller + infinitive: This can be translated in various ways depending on the context, often indicating an intention or a habitual action. For example, in the passé composé, J'ai été aller voir mon ami (I went to see my friend), the meaning is different than J'ai été aller voir mon ami because this implies the action may or may not have been completed.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: When do I use the passé composé versus the imparfait for aller?

A: Use the passé composé to describe completed actions in the past. Use the imparfait for habitual actions, descriptions of the past, or actions that were ongoing.

Q: Why does the past participle of aller agree with the subject?

A: Because aller uses the auxiliary verb être, the past participle allé(e)(s)(es) agrees in gender and number with the subject, just like other verbs conjugated with être.

Q: Is the passé simple of aller still used in modern French?

A: While less common in everyday conversation, the passé simple is still found in literature, formal writing, and sometimes in very formal speeches.

Q: How do I choose the correct past tense when using aller with other verbs?

A: The choice of past tense depends on the specific meaning you want to convey. Consider whether the action is completed (passé composé), habitual (imparfait), or occurred before another past action (plus-que-parfait).

Conclusion

Mastering the past tenses of aller is a significant step in improving your French fluency. By understanding the nuances of the passé composé, imparfait, plus-que-parfait, and even the passé simple, you'll be equipped to express a wide range of past actions with accuracy and precision. Remember the key differences: the use of être as the auxiliary verb, the agreement of the past participle, and the different functions of each tense. With consistent practice and attention to these details, you'll confidently navigate the complexities of aller in the past tense and enhance your overall French communication skills. Don't be discouraged by the irregularities; with focused effort, you'll achieve fluency!