French Phrase
C'était le premier janvier.
Meaning
This phrase uses the imperfect tense of the verb être to establish a point in time in the past. It is a common way to set the scene or provide context when telling a story or recalling an event.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are describing a past date or setting the background for a narrative. It is frequently used in journals, literature, or casual conversation about past holidays.
✦Grammar Breakdown
C'étaitlepremierjanvier
C'était
A contraction of 'ce' and 'était', the imperfect form of 'être' used for past descriptions.
Premier
In French, you must use 'premier' for the first day of any month, while all other days use regular numbers like deux or trois.
🗨In Conversation
Quand est-ce que tu es arrivé à Paris ?
When did you arrive in Paris?
C'était le premier janvier.
It was the first of January.
✕Common Mistakes
C'est le premier janvier.
Use the imperfect tense 'c'était' instead of the present 'c'est' when referring to the past.
C'était le un janvier.
French uses the ordinal number 'premier' for the first day of the month rather than the cardinal number 'un'.
↔Alternatives
On était le premier janvier.
It was the first of January.
C'était le jour de l'An.
It was New Year's Day.
Cultural Tip
In France, January 1st is a public holiday called 'le jour de l'An'. It is customary to exchange 'les vœux' (New Year's wishes) and sometimes small gifts or cards with family and friends throughout the entire month of January.