Faire In The Past Tense

Faire in the Past Tense: A Comprehensive Guide

The French verb faire (to do/to make) is notoriously irregular, and its past tenses present a significant challenge for learners. Mastering its conjugations is crucial for fluency, as it's one of the most frequently used verbs in the language. This comprehensive guide will dissect the past tenses of faire, explaining each form, its usage, and providing ample examples to solidify your understanding. We'll explore the passé composé, imparfait, plus-que-parfait, and even touch upon the rarely used passé simple.

Understanding the French Past Tenses

Before diving into the conjugations of faire, let's briefly review the function of the main past tenses in French:

• Passé Composé: This is the most common past tense, used for completed actions in the past. It's formed with an auxiliary verb (usually avoir – to have) and the past participle of the main verb. Think of it as the equivalent of the English simple past in many contexts.

• Imparfait: The imparfait describes ongoing or habitual actions in the past, settings, descriptions, and emotions. It doesn't indicate completion. Think of it as the equivalent of the English past continuous ("was/were doing") or past habitual ("used to do").

• Plus-que-parfait: This tense indicates an action completed before another action in the past. It's formed with the imparfait of avoir or être and the past participle. It's similar to the English "had done".

• Passé Simple: This is a literary past tense, rarely used in spoken French except in certain regions. It's used to describe completed actions in narratives and formal writing.

Passé Composé of Faire

The passé composé of faire is formed with the auxiliary verb avoir (to have) and the past participle fait.

Here's the conjugation:

Examples:

• J'ai fait mes devoirs. (I did my homework.)
• Tu as fait un excellent travail. (You did an excellent job.)
• Ils ont fait une randonnée. (They went for a hike.)
• Nous avons fait un gâteau. (We made a cake.)

Imparfait of Faire

The imparfait of faire is relatively regular compared to other tenses. It follows the pattern of -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient.

Examples:

• Je faisais souvent du vélo. (I often rode my bike.) (Habitual action)
• Il faisait beau hier. (The weather was nice yesterday.) (Description)
• Nous faisions nos courses le samedi. (We used to do our shopping on Saturdays.) (Habitual action)

Plus-que-parfait of Faire

The plus-que-parfait of faire uses the imparfait of avoir and the past participle fait.

Examples:

• J'avais fait le gâteau avant qu'ils arrivent. (I had made the cake before they arrived.)
• Elle avait fait ses valises. (She had packed her bags.)

Passé Simple of Faire

As mentioned earlier, the passé simple is largely confined to written French, particularly in literary works. It's less common in everyday speech. The conjugations are as follows:

Example (literary context): Il fit un pas en avant. (He took a step forward.)

Using Faire with Different Constructions

The verb faire can be used in various constructions, impacting the choice of past tense. Understanding these nuances is crucial for accurate and natural-sounding French.

• Faire + infinitive: When faire is followed by an infinitive, the past tense of faire is conjugated, and the infinitive remains unchanged.

  • Example (Passé Composé): J'ai fait travailler les élèves. (I made the students work.)

• Faire + que + subjunctive: In this construction, faire expresses causation. The subjunctive mood is used in the dependent clause.

  • Example (Passé Composé): J'ai fait que les enfants pleuraient. (I made the children cry.) Note the use of the passé composé of faire and the imparfait of the subjunctive for "pleuraient".

• Se faire + past participle (reflexive): This construction often translates to "to get something done" or "to have something done."

  • Example (Passé Composé): Je me suis fait couper les cheveux. (I got my hair cut.)

Common Expressions with Faire

Several common expressions utilize faire, each with its own implications in the past tense. Understanding these expressions will enhance your comprehension of French texts and improve your conversational skills.

• Faire attention: To pay attention. (J'ai fait attention – I paid attention.)
• Faire un effort: To make an effort. (Elle a fait un effort – She made an effort.)
• Faire la cuisine: To cook. (Il a fait la cuisine – He cooked.)
• Faire du sport: To do sports. (Nous avons fait du sport – We did sports.)
• Faire beau/mauvais temps: To be nice/bad weather. (Il a fait beau – The weather was nice.)
• Faire semblant: To pretend. (Ils ont fait semblant – They pretended.)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: When should I use the passé composé versus the imparfait?

A: This is a common point of confusion. Use the passé composé for completed actions, and the imparfait for descriptions, habitual actions, or actions in progress at a specific time in the past. Consider the narrative context – if the action is a key event in the sequence, use the passé composé. If it's background information or setting the scene, use the imparfait.

Q: How do I choose between avoir and être as the auxiliary verb with faire?

A: The auxiliary verb with faire is always avoir.

Q: Is the passé simple ever used in modern French?

A: While rare in everyday conversation, the passé simple still appears in written French, especially in literary works and formal writing. You're unlikely to hear it in casual speech.

Q: Are there any common mistakes to avoid when using the past tense of faire?

A: A common mistake is confusing the passé composé and imparfait. Pay close attention to the narrative context and the type of action being described. Also, remember that faire always uses avoir as its auxiliary verb in compound tenses.

Conclusion

Mastering the past tenses of faire is a significant step towards fluency in French. While its irregularities can be challenging, with consistent practice and a solid understanding of the different tenses and their uses, you'll be able to confidently use faire in a variety of contexts. Remember to focus on the nuances of each tense and how they relate to the overall narrative. By practicing regularly with example sentences and paying attention to the context, you'll solidify your understanding and significantly improve your French skills. Don't be afraid to consult grammar resources and practice conjugating the verb in different contexts to reinforce your learning. With dedication, you will conquer this irregular verb and enhance your French proficiency.