Imperfait vs passé composé

Question 1

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.

Answer 1

Ils sont arrivés à 8h. Nous avons dansé toute la nuit. J’ai travaillé pendant deux heures.
Elle est née en juin.

Question 2

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.

Answer 2

Hier je regardais la télévision quand mon père est entré dans la pièce.

Question 3

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.

Answer 3

J’ai travaillé toute la journée, je suis fatigué.

Question 4

He ate too much, his stomach hurts.

Answer 4

Il a trop mangé, il a mal à l’estomac.

Question 5

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.

Answer 5

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.

Question 6

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.

Answer 6

Ils sont sortis trois fois cette semaine.

Question 7

It can indicate the existence of a fact at a past time. (situation)
Ex.: Two thousand years ago, France was called Gaul.

Answer 7

Ex.: Il y a deux mille ans, la France s’appelait la Gaule.

Question 8

At the beginning of the 20th century, women did not vote.

Answer 8

Au début du XXème siècle, les femmes ne votaient pas.

Question 9

It is used in descriptions, memories
Ex.: The weather was nice. It was a Sunday. I was happy.

Answer 9

Il est employé dans les descriptions, les souvenirs
Ex. : Il faisait beau. C’était un dimanche. J’étais heureuse.

Question 10

People were walking in the streets or chatting on cafe terraces. (chat = to chat)

Answer 10

Les gens se promenaient dans les rues ou bavardaient à la terrasse des cafés. (bavarder = to chat)

Question 11

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.

Answer 11

De 1990 à 2000, j’ai fait du violon

Question 12

For 10 years, I played the violin.

Answer 12

Pendant 10 ans, j’ai fait du violon.

Question 13

From the age of 10 to 20, I played the violin.

Answer 13

De l’âge de 10 à 20 ans, j’ai fait du violon.

Question 14

Before, I played the violin.

Answer 14

Avant, je faisais du violon.

Question 15

When I was young, I played the violin.

Answer 15

Quand j’étais jeune, je faisais du violon.

Question 16

At that time, I played the violin.

Answer 16

A cette époque-là, je faisais du violon.

Question 17

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.

Answer 17

Je suis allé à Paris la semaine dernière. J’y étais déjà allé en 2010.

Question 18

The baby had fallen asleep. She left without making any noise.

Answer 18

Le bébé s’était endormi. Elle est sortie sans faire de bruit.

Question 19

When firefighters arrived, the house was already on fire.

Answer 19

Quand les pompiers sont arrivés, la maison avait déjà brûlé.

Question 20

• I missed the train.
• I told you to leave early!

Answer 20

• J’ai râté le train.
• Je t’avais bien dit de partir plus tôt!

Question 21

When I got up, my mother had made coffee.

Answer 21

Quand je me suis levé, ma mère avait préparé le café.

Question 22

When I got up, my mother was making coffee.

Answer 22

Quand je me suis levé, ma mère préparait le café.

Question 23

When I got up, my mother made coffee.

Answer 23

Quand je me suis levé, ma mère a préparé le café.

Question 24

• to be: 16 verbs ((r)enter/exit, go up/down, go/come, leave/arrive, be born/die, die, fall, stay, become, intervene, pass)

Answer 24

• être : 16 verbes ((r)entrer/sortir, monter/descendre, aller/venir, partir/arriver, naitre/ mourir, décéder, tomber, rester, devenir, intervenir, passer)

Question 25

• to be: pronominal verbs (se…)
  I went out, took a walk. I took the wrong way. I ate at the restaurant.

Answer 25

Je suis sorti, je me suis promené. Je me suis trompé de chemin. J’ai mangé au restaurant.

Question 26

They had gone to Paris a year before.

Answer 26

Elles étaient allées à Paris un an avant.

Question 27

They left at 8 a.m. but came back because they had forgotten their wallets.

Answer 27

Ils sont partis à 8 heures mais ils sont revenus car ils avaient oublié leur porte-monnaie.