The force, in English, is "used to . . .," "kept . . . -ing," etc.
E.g., Esth. l. 6: m'aidais à soupirer . . . "wast wont to sigh with me."
l. 83: . . . disais-je, . . . = "I would say"
ii.
WHEN NO REPETITION OF THE ACTION IS IMPLIED.
A. IF THE ACTION IS CONSIDERED AS BEING SIMPLY IN PROGRESS, WITHOUT REFERENCE EITHER TO ITS BEGINNING OR TO ITS END, again the IMPARFAIT is used.
The force, in English, is "was . . . -ing."
E.g., l. 12: je vivais séparée = "I was living apart."
l. 58: . . . attendaient leur arrêt = "were awaiting their doom."
B. IF THE ACTION IS STATED WITH REFERENCE EITHER TO ITS BEGINNING, OR
TO ITS END, OR TO BOTH, the PASSÉ DÉFINI is used.