© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.8A.2-1 Point de départ You have already seen some uses of the passé composé versus the imparfait while talking about things and events in the past. Here are some other contexts in which the choice of the tense you use is important.
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.8A.2-2 The passé composé and the imparfait are often used together to narrate a story or an incident. In such cases, the imparfait is usually used to set the scene or the background while the passé composé moves the story along.
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.8A.2-3
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© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.8A.2-5 When the passé composé and the imparfait occur in the same sentence, the action in the passé composé often interrupts the ongoing action in the imparfait.
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.8A.2-6 Depending on how you want to express the actions, either the passé composé or the imparfait can follow quand.
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.8A.2-7 Sometimes the use of the passé composé and the imparfait in the same sentence expresses a cause and effect.
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.8A.2-8 Certain adverbs often indicate a particular past tense.
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.8A.2-9 While talking about the past or narrating a tale, you might use the verb vivre (to live) which is irregular.
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.8A.2-10 The past participle of vivre is vécu. The imparfait is formed like regular –re verbs by taking the nous form, dropping the –ons, and adding the endings.
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.8A Lise (a étudié /étudiait) toujours avec ses amis. 2. Maman (a fait /faisait) du yoga hier. 3. Ma grand-mère (passait /a passé) par là tous les jours. 4. D’habitude, ils (arrivaient /sont arrivés) toujours en retard. 5. Tout à coup, le professeur (entrait /est entré) dans la classe. 6. Ce matin, Camille (a lavé /lavait) le chien. Essayez! Choisissez la forme correcte du verbe au passé.