Imperfait vs passé composé Flashcards
More or less short action specified in the past.
Ex: They arrived at 8am. We danced all night. I worked for two hours.
She was born in June.
Ils sont arrivés à 8h. Nous avons dansé toute la nuit. J’ai travaillé pendant deux heures.
Elle est née en juin.
It is used to recount past events. It is often used with the imperfect which is used to describe.
Ex.: Yesterday I was watching television when my father came into the room.
Hier je regardais la télévision quand mon père est entré dans la pièce.
It can be used to express that an action has been completed but that it has an effect (physical or psychological) on the present.
Ex.: I worked all day, I’m tired.
J’ai travaillé toute la journée, je suis fatigué.
He ate too much, his stomach hurts.
Il a trop mangé, il a mal à l’estomac.
It can be the succession of punctual processes, with commas or connecting words
…, …, … and… …., then….., then……, after….., finally…..
I got up, ate breakfast, then showered, got dressed, put on my coat and went out.
Je me suis levé, puis j’ai pris mon petit-déjeuner, ensuite je me suis douché, je me suis habillé, j’ai mis mon manteau et je suis sorti.
We use the past tense when there are several times during a limited period of time.
(once, twice, several times, etc.)
Ex.: They came out three times this week.
Ils sont sortis trois fois cette semaine.
It can indicate the existence of a fact at a past time. (situation)
Ex.: Two thousand years ago, France was called Gaul.
Ex.: Il y a deux mille ans, la France s’appelait la Gaule.
At the beginning of the 20th century, women did not vote.
Au début du XXème siècle, les femmes ne votaient pas.
It is used in descriptions, memories
Ex.: The weather was nice. It was a Sunday. I was happy.
Il est employé dans les descriptions, les souvenirs
Ex. : Il faisait beau. C’était un dimanche. J’étais heureuse.
People were walking in the streets or chatting on cafe terraces. (chat = to chat)
Les gens se promenaient dans les rues ou bavardaient à la terrasse des cafés. (bavarder = to chat)
We use the past tense with a defined duration (with a precise beginning and end). We use the imperfect tense with an indefinite duration.
Ex. :
From 1990 to 2000, I played the violin.
De 1990 à 2000, j’ai fait du violon
For 10 years, I played the violin.
Pendant 10 ans, j’ai fait du violon.
From the age of 10 to 20, I played the violin.
De l’âge de 10 à 20 ans, j’ai fait du violon.
Before, I played the violin.
Avant, je faisais du violon.
When I was young, I played the violin.
Quand j’étais jeune, je faisais du violon.
At that time, I played the violin.
A cette époque-là, je faisais du violon.
It places the action before a moment in the past expressed by the past tense or the imperfect tense.
Ex. :
I went to Paris last week. I had already been there in 2010.
Je suis allé à Paris la semaine dernière. J’y étais déjà allé en 2010.
The baby had fallen asleep. She left without making any noise.
Le bébé s’était endormi. Elle est sortie sans faire de bruit.
When firefighters arrived, the house was already on fire.
Quand les pompiers sont arrivés, la maison avait déjà brûlé.
- I missed the train.
- I told you to leave early!
- J’ai râté le train.
- Je t’avais bien dit de partir plus tôt!
When I got up, my mother had made coffee.
Quand je me suis levé, ma mère avait préparé le café.
When I got up, my mother was making coffee.
Quand je me suis levé, ma mère préparait le café.
When I got up, my mother made coffee.
Quand je me suis levé, ma mère a préparé le café.
- to be: 16 verbs ((r)enter/exit, go up/down, go/come, leave/arrive, be born/die, die, fall, stay, become, intervene, pass)
- être : 16 verbes ((r)entrer/sortir, monter/descendre, aller/venir, partir/arriver, naitre/ mourir, décéder, tomber, rester, devenir, intervenir, passer)
- to be: pronominal verbs (se…)
I went out, took a walk. I took the wrong way. I ate at the restaurant.
Je suis sorti, je me suis promené. Je me suis trompé de chemin. J’ai mangé au restaurant.
They had gone to Paris a year before.
Elles étaient allées à Paris un an avant.
They left at 8 a.m. but came back because they had forgotten their wallets.
Ils sont partis à 8 heures mais ils sont revenus car ils avaient oublié leur porte-monnaie.
