'Fallait' is a conjugated form of the impersonal French verb falloir.
Understanding Falloir
Falloir is a unique and essential verb in French, primarily meaning "to be necessary" or "to need." It stands out due to its specific characteristics:
- Impersonal Nature: Falloir is strictly an impersonal verb, which means it can only be conjugated with the third-person singular subject pronoun "il" (it). You cannot say "je faux" or "tu faux." Instead, expressions of necessity involving other persons are framed as "it is necessary that..." or "it is necessary for...".
- Irregular Verb: Falloir is highly irregular, and its conjugations do not follow typical patterns, making it one that French learners often need to memorize.
- Versatile Usage: Despite its singular conjugation, falloir is incredibly versatile and can be followed by different grammatical structures to convey necessity or obligation:
- The Subjunctive: When the necessity applies to a specific person, il faut is often followed by the subjunctive mood.
- Ex: Il faut que nous partions tôt. (It is necessary that we leave early.)
- An Infinitive: To express a general necessity or obligation, il faut is followed by an infinitive verb.
- Ex: Il faut étudier pour réussir. (It is necessary to study to succeed.)
- A Noun: Falloir can also be used with a noun to indicate a need for something.
- Ex: Il faut du courage pour faire ça. (It takes courage to do that.)
- The Subjunctive: When the necessity applies to a specific person, il faut is often followed by the subjunctive mood.
The Imperfect Tense: 'Fallait'
'Fallait' specifically represents the imperfect tense of falloir. The imperfect tense in French is used to describe actions that were:
- Ongoing or habitual in the past.
- Background actions or conditions.
- Descriptions in the past.
Here's a comparison of falloir's conjugation in common tenses to illustrate where 'fallait' fits:
| Tense | Conjugation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Présent | Il faut | It is necessary / One must |
| Imparfait | Il fallait | It was necessary / One had to (ongoing) |
| Passé Composé | Il a fallu | It was necessary (completed action) |
| Futur Simple | Il faudra | It will be necessary |
Practical Examples of 'Fallait'
Understanding 'fallait' in context helps grasp its meaning and usage:
- Il fallait finir le projet avant la date limite.
- (It was necessary to finish the project before the deadline.) - Describes a past obligation.
- Quand j'étais étudiant, il fallait toujours faire des recherches approfondies.
- (When I was a student, it was always necessary to do in-depth research.) - Describes a habitual past necessity.
- Il fallait qu'elle s'habitue à la nouvelle ville.
- (It was necessary for her to get used to the new city.) - Expresses a past necessity concerning a specific person, requiring the subjunctive.
Why Learn Falloir?
Mastering falloir is crucial for expressing obligation, necessity, and requirements in French. Its impersonal nature often poses a challenge for learners, but understanding its structure and various applications opens up many expressive possibilities in conversation and writing.
Further Resources
For more in-depth conjugations and usage examples, consider consulting a comprehensive French verb conjugation resource like Larousse:
