M'étais (en. Was)

/mɛtɛ/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench

verb

Indicates a past state or action in the first person singular.

I had taken the wrong path.

Je m'étais trompé de chemin.

Expresses a condition or situation of self-reflection in the past.

I had committed to finishing the project.

Je m'étais engagé à terminer le projet.

Used to talk about a previous personal experience.

When I thought about it, I had always felt confused.

Quand j'y pensais, je m'étais toujours senti confus.

Contraction of the reflexive pronoun 'me' and the verb 'être' in the imperfect tense.

I had told myself

a reflection one made in the past.

je m'étais dit

if I had known

expresses a regrettable past condition.

si je m'étais su

had left

indicates that one left in the past.

m'en étais allé

to be

state verb that means to exist or to have.

être

was

imperfect form of the verb 'être' in the third person singular.

était

better

comparative adverb often used to express improvement.

mieux

Used to express nostalgia or regret.

Ah, if I had suspected that...

Ah, si je m'étais douté de cela...

To express a reflection on a past event.

I had finally realized my mistake.

Je m'étais finalement rendu compte de mon erreur.