Giáo trình động từ tiếng Pháp - Part III Taking a Look Back: The Past Tenses - Chapter 13 pps

Chapter 13

Contrasting the Imperfect

with the Passé Composé

In This Chapter

Knowing the differences between the imperfect and the passé composé

Choosing when to use each tense

When you recount past events, you often describe the circumstances in which the

events took place as well as tell what happened using specific actions. This chapter

guides you in distinguishing between the two tenses — the imperfect and the passé composé.

(For more on forming the imperfect and the passé composé, see Chapters 11 and 12.)

Identifying the Main Differences

between the Two Tenses

The choice between the passé composé and the imperfect depends on the context of what

you’re saying. At times, the choice between these two tenses is subjective and depends on

the way you view the events. So when do you use the imperfect versus the passé composé?

You use the imperfect to provide background information, such as descriptions of scenery,

weather, physical appearance, and mental state. You also use it to describe events that have

occurred an unspecified number of times as well as ongoing and habitual actions. The trans￾lation of the imperfect in English is used to do something, would do something, or was doing

something.

On the other hand, you use the passé composé for completed actions in the past, actions

that occurred at a specific moment in time and a specific number of times, and changes or

interruptions of a state or actions.

Table 13-1 serves as a guide and provides example sentences for each use.

Table 13-1 Differences between the Imperfect and Passé Composé

When to Use Example When to Use Example

Imperfect Passé Composé

Habitual or Je lisais. (I was Change or interruption Je lisais quand tu es entré.

continuous action reading.) in the action (I was reading when you

entered.)

(continued)

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