Je parlais souvent français.
I often used to speak French.
Tense guide
Imperfect
Use the imperfect for background, descriptions, repeated past habits, and actions that were in progress.
When to use it
It often answers what was going on, what used to happen, or what things were like: il pleuvait, je lisais souvent.
How to recognise it
Most forms contain the sound or spelling -ai- plus endings like -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient.
How to form it
Start from the nous form in the present, remove -ons, and add -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient.
A simple rule
For a single completed event, prefer passé composé. For the background around that event, use the imperfect.
Examples
Nous avions le temps.
We had time.