French grammar by topic › French past tenses, explained

French past tenses, explained

French has one past tense for what happened (the passé composé), one for describing and setting the scene (the imparfait), and one for the past before the past (the plus-que-parfait). Choosing between the first two is the single biggest step from A2 to B1.

In writing, especially literature, you'll also meet the passé simple. You need to recognise it, not use it.

The essentials

Passé composé: avoir or être + past participle, for completed events (j'ai mangé, elle est partie).
Être is used with about 15 movement and change-of-state verbs, and all reflexive verbs; then the participle agrees (elles sont arrivées).
Imparfait: descriptions, habits and background (il faisait beau, je jouais tous les jours).
Together: the imparfait sets the scene, the passé composé moves the story (je lisais quand il a sonné).

Every lesson on this topic

Each lesson has a full explanation, examples you can listen to, and exercises with answers.

A2 (the A2 course)

Passé composé with avoir: J'ai mangé, tu as fini, il a vendu
Passé composé: J'ai fait, j'ai pris, j'ai vu…
Passé composé with être: Je suis allé(e), elle est partie
Pronominal verbs: Je me suis levé(e)
Negation with the passé composé: Je n'ai pas mangé
Imparfait: Je parlais, nous finissions
Imparfait usage: Quand j'étais petit, je jouais…
Passé composé vs imparfait: Background vs events

B1 (the B1 course)

Plus-que-parfait: J'avais mangé
Past participle agreement with a preceding direct object: Je les ai vues

B2 (the B2 course)

Past infinitive: Après avoir mangé, il est parti

C1 (the C1 course)

Passé simple: Il fut, elle alla, ils firent

C2 (the C2 course)

The passé antérieur: Quand il eut fini, il sortit.

In the app, these lessons are taught one idea at a time with audio, practised until you get them right on three separate days, and brought back when your own French shows a mistake on them.

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