Impersonal verbs in French only ever conjugate with the pronoun il (it). This il doesn't refer to a specific person, but rather to a general situation. In this lesson, we will look at two essential impersonal expressions in the imparfait used to describe the past.
Il y avait (There was / There were)
The present tense expression il y a (there is / there are) becomes il y avait (there was / there were) in the imparfait.
Just like in the present tense, it does not change form whether the noun that follows is singular or plural. It is the perfect tool for setting the scene in a story or describing what existed in historical eras.
Il fallait (It was necessary / One had to)
The present tense expression il faut (it is necessary / one must) comes from the irregular verb falloir. In the imparfait, it becomes il fallait.
Use il fallait to describe past obligations, general rules, or what people had to do back in the day. It is most often followed directly by an infinitive verb.
You can also use il fallait followed by a noun to express what was needed or required in the past.
Describing Difficult Times
When talking about history, you will often use these two expressions together to paint a picture of past living conditions, such as during a war (une guerre) or an illness (une maladie). First, you state what existed (il y avait), and then you explain what people had to do as a result (il fallait).
