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Passe Compose Vs Imparfait Notes

The document explains the differences between l'imparfait and le passé composé in French. L'imparfait is used for ongoing, habitual actions and background descriptions, while le passé composé is for completed events. Key phrases are provided to help determine which tense to use in various contexts.

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24 views2 pages

Passe Compose Vs Imparfait Notes

The document explains the differences between l'imparfait and le passé composé in French. L'imparfait is used for ongoing, habitual actions and background descriptions, while le passé composé is for completed events. Key phrases are provided to help determine which tense to use in various contexts.

Uploaded by

erin.fohouo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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THE USES OF THE IMPARFAIT AND THE PASSÉ COMPOSÉ

l’Imparfait Le Passé composé

I. An ongoing action with no specified One or more events or actions that began
completion and ended in the past
Je regardais Sesame Street. I watched J’ai regardé Sesame Street. - I watched
(used to watch) Sesame Street. Sesame Street.
Je visitais le parc. I was visiting (used to J'ai visité le parc. - I visited the park.
visit) the park.
II. A habitual or repeated action A single event
Je voyageais en France tous les ans. J'ai voyagé en France l'année dernière. - I
I traveled (used to travel) to traveled to France last year
France every year J'ai nagé samedi. - I swam on Saturday
Je nageais le samedi. - I swam on
Saturdays.
III. Description/background info; set the ...when something happened,
scene of how things were or what was
happening when... (to be + -ing usually + interrupting the description/background.

indicates this)
J'étais à la banque quand... ... quand Paul est entré.
- I was at the bank when... - ... when Paul entere.
Je vivais en Espagne quand... ... quand je l'ai trouvé.
- I was living in Spain when... - ... when I found it.
IV General description of physical or vs. Change in physical or mental state at a
. mental state of being precise moment or for an isolated cause
J'avais peur des chiens - I was afraid of J'ai eu peur quand le chien a aboyé - I was
dogs scared when the dog barked
V. Expression of the time of day or age in the past
Il était cinq heures du matin - It was five a.m.
C'était son anniversaire; il avait douze ans - It was his birthday; he was twelve.

Thus l'imparfait describes past situations, while le passé composé


narrates specific events. In addition, l'imparfait can set the stage
for an event expressed with the passé composé (see III, above).
The following key words and phrases can help you figure out whether to use
l'imparfait or le passé composé:
L'imparfait Le passé composé
d'habitude usually une/deux (etc.) fois once/twice (etc.)
de temps en temps from time to time plusieurs fois several times
autrefois formerly soudainement suddenly
le week-end on the weekends un week-end one weekend
le lundi on Mondays lundi on Monday
tous les jours every day un jour one day
normalement usually tout d'un coup all of a sudden
souvent often il y a + time ago
en général in general, generally
chaque semaine, mois, every week, month,
année... year
le soir in the evenings

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