Passé composé vs imparfait
Background vs events
Choosing between the passé composé and the imparfait is one of the trickiest parts of French. The key question: is this an event, or the background?
Passé composé: events
Completed actions that move the story forward. What happened.
- Hier, je suis allé au marché.Yesterday I went to the market.
- Il a ouvert la porte et il est sorti.He opened the door and went out.
Imparfait: background
Descriptions, states, habits and ongoing actions. What was going on.
- Il faisait froid et il y avait du vent.It was cold and windy.
- Je marchais dans la rue.I was walking down the street.
Together in a story
The imparfait sets the scene, the passé composé gives the events:
- Il pleuvait. Je regardais la télé. Soudain, quelqu'un a frappé à la porte.It was raining. I was watching TV. Suddenly someone knocked at the door.
- Je dormais quand tu as appelé.I was sleeping when you called.
Length isn't the issue
A long but bounded action is still an event (passé composé):
- J'ai habité à Rome pendant trois ans.I lived in Rome for three years. (finished, defined period)
- J'habitais à Rome à cette époque.I was living in Rome at that time. (background)
Signal words
| passé composé | imparfait |
|---|---|
| soudain, tout à coup | souvent, d'habitude |
| un jour, une fois | tous les jours, chaque semaine |
| hier, ce matin (+ event) | quand j'étais petit |
| pendant + duration | pendant que (+ ongoing) |
Changes of meaning
- Je savais.I knew. / J'ai su.
- Je connaissais Paul.I knew Paul. / J'ai connu Paul en 2010.
- Il devait partir.He was supposed to leave. / Il a dû partir.
Practice
- Je _____ la télé quand tu as appelé.Options: regardais · ai regardé
Show the answer
regardais
- Quand je suis arrivé, il _____.Options: pleuvait · a plu
Show the answer
pleuvait
- Hier, j'_____ trois cafés.Options: ai bu · buvais
Show the answer
ai bu
- Elle _____ quand elle a vu l'accident.Options: conduisait · a conduit
Show the answer
conduisait
In the app, this lesson is taught one idea at a time with the examples read aloud, followed by questions that explain the rule when you get one wrong. It then comes back for review on later days until you've mastered it.