Passé Composé vs Imparfait
Main Differences Imparfait = what was happening all around you (including you), background. Also ongoing events, habits, what used to be. Passé composé = what took place at that very moment: a specific event or a succession of specific events, the main storyline.
Ongoing Events J’ai vu Jean il y a cinq minutes… Il t’a attendu au gymnase. Il t’attendait au gymnase. Jean was waiting for you. He may still be waiting. Not sure if action is completed Jean waited for you, but is gone now. Completed action
Habits vs Specific Events The imperfect describes habitual actions in the past. The PC describes what took place, specific events. Le lundi, je dînais chez ma soeur. On Mondays, I used to have dinner at my sister’s Un lundi, nous avons dîné au restaurant. One Monday, we dined in a restaurant. In this case, what you need to look for are the time setting words : “le lundi” (habit) versus “un lundi”(specific).
Clues for the Imperfect Some expressions are usually followed by the imperfect le lundi (on MondayS), le soir, le matin tous les lundis (tous les matins, soirs, jours…) chaque jour (mois, année…) Pendant que, en train de d’habitude, habituellement généralement, en général, normalement parfois, quelques fois, de temps en temps, rarement, autrefois (in the past)
Clues for the passé composé Some expressions usually followed by passé composé Soudain Tout a coup Hier (matin, après-midi, soir(specific isolated inciden) Très vite D’abord Puis Ensuite Enfin, Finalement Tout de suite
When telling a story Passé Composé Imperfect Describes actions that constitute the storyline. It tells the series of specific events that took place. Describes the background, sets the scene: the date, the time of the day, the weather, the scene (what people were doing)….. external circumstances, age, appearance, physical traits, physical condition, feelings, attitudes…. personal circumstances.
Clues for the Imperfect Some verbs that are usually in the imperfect Aimer Espérer Etre Avoir Connaitre Coire Penser Pouvoir Savoir Vouloir Devoir
Le weekend dernier.PCvsImp video