PASSÉ COMPOSÉ V. IMPARFAIT Which one do I use?!
Apr 01, 2015
PASSÉ COMPOSÉ V. IMPARFAIT
Which one do I use?!
PASSÉ COMPOSÉ
Used to narrate specific events, with specific start
and stop times
Talks about something that happed a single time
Could also be used to describe something that
happened a distinct number of times
Used when an action interrupts another action
IMPARFAIT
Known as the “describer”; used to set the scene
Describes an ongoing action with no specified
completion
Used to describe something habitual, or recurring
Used to describe the background action, what is
ongoing
There is also a set of circumstances to be used as a
guide, that if met, require imparfait to be used
(WATERLOAD)
WATERLOAD ( IMPARFAIT)
W ~ Weather
A ~ Age
T ~ Time
E ~ Emotion
R ~ Repeated
Action
L ~ Location
O ~ Ongoing Action
A ~ Attitude
D ~ Description
PRACTICE
“I was going to France”
J’allais en France
PRACTICE
“I went to France”
Je suis allé en France
PRACTICE
“I visited a monument”
J’ai visité un monument
PRACTICE
“I was visiting
monuments”
Je visitais des monuments
PRACTICE
“I traveled in France last
year”
J’ai voyagé en France l’année
dernière
PRACTICE
“I was afraid of dogs”
J’avais peur des chiens
PRACTICE
“I was scared when the dog
barked”
J’ai eu peur quand le chien a
aboyé