je donnais

was giving, used to give

→ donner
donn give + ais imperfect tense, je/tu
verb · first singular · imperfect indicative Rare #26,792
was giving, used to give Imperfect past tense (je/tu form), often describes an ongoing or habitual past action.
FR: Je donnais des cours de français le soir.
EN: I used to give French lessons in the evening.
Conjugation of donner
Indicative imperfect
SingularPlural
First donnais
Second donnais donniez
Third donnait donnaient

Je vous donnais une chance.

I was giving you a chance.

— Princess Bride (1987)

Et si je te donnais assez pour obtenir de vrais papiers pour ta sœur?

What if I gave you enough to get proper papers for your sister?

— Running Man (2025)

Je leur donnais un coup de main.

I gave them a hand.

Tu donnais toujours l’impression d’être insatisfait.

You always gave the impression of being dissatisfied.

— Demon Slayer : Kimetsu no Yaiba - Le film : La Forteresse infinie (2025)

Je lui donnais un massage.

I was giving him a massage.

— Séquences et conséquences (2000)

Et tu donnais tout à mémé!

And you used to give everything to Grandma!

— Amarcord (1973)

Fais comme si je te donnais des ordres.

Pretend I'm giving you orders.

— Star Trek II : La colère de Khan (1982)

Je lui donnais ce que tu lui donnais pas, voilà!

I was giving him what you weren't giving him, that's all!

— Reconnu coupable (2026)

Le lundi matin, je donnais un cours.

On Monday mornings, I taught a class.

— 3 Idiots (2009)

Je lui donnais la nourriture que je n'aimais pas.

I used to give him the food I didn't like.

— Black (2005)

Au lieu de me donner des indices, tu me donnais ton cahier chelou.

Instead of giving me clues, you gave me your weird notebook.

— Silent Voice (2016)

Parce que je donnais les mauvaises réponses.

Because I was giving the wrong answers.

— Qui suis-je (2014)