Étais-je (en. Was i)

/e.tɛ.ʒə/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench

verb

Used to inquire about a person's state or condition in the past.

Was I really responsible for this situation?

Étais-je vraiment le responsable de cette situation ?

Asks a question about a previous experience.

Had I already been to Paris before this trip?

Étais-je déjà allé à Paris avant ce voyage ?

Used as an auxiliary in conditional or hypothetical constructions.

Was I happier at that time?

Étais-je plus heureux à cette époque ?

A composite form of 'to be' (verb) and the subject pronoun 'I'.

Was I really there?

Asks if one was present in a situation.

Étais-je vraiment là ?

Was I too demanding?

Inquires about the level of past demands.

Étais-je trop exigeant ?

Was I happy at that moment?

Asks a question about past feelings.

Étais-je heureux à ce moment-là ?

I am

Used to affirm one's present state.

je suis

You are

Form of the verb 'to be' for the second person.

tu es

He was

Masculine form of the verb 'to be' in the past.

il était

Question about one's past, in a familiar manner.

Was I really there or was it a dream?

Étais-je là vraiment ou c'était un rêve ?

Used to evoke memories in an informal way.

Was I the only one to believe in that?

Étais-je le seul à croire en ça ?