{"id":9899,"date":"2024-07-15T16:47:24","date_gmt":"2024-07-15T14:47:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.frenchcourses-paris.com\/?p=9899"},"modified":"2024-07-15T17:25:47","modified_gmt":"2024-07-15T15:25:47","slug":"passe-compose-versus-imparfait","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.frenchcourses-paris.com\/fr\/french-courses-paris\/passe-compose-versus-imparfait\/","title":{"rendered":"Pass\u00e9 compos\u00e9 and imparfait"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:28px\">This French lesson will teach you the difference between pass\u00e9 compos\u00e9 and imparfait in French<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:26px\">Pass\u00e9 compos\u00e9 and imparfait cannot translate literally from English<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:40px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-image aligncenter uagb-block-d8dd99c8 wp-block-uagb-image--layout-default wp-block-uagb-image--effect-static wp-block-uagb-image--align-center\"><figure class=\"wp-block-uagb-image__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\"  sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 150px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.frenchcourses-paris.com\/images\/2024\/07\/passe-compose-and-imparfait-in-french.png\" alt=\"Pass\u00e9 compos\u00e9 vs imparfait in french\" width=\"467\" height=\"177\" title=\"Pass\u00e9 compos\u00e9 and Imparfait Tenses in French\" loading=\"lazy\" role=\"img\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-2ae44005ffc93503aad219d9bc5421b1 is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\">\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>The imparfait<\/strong> describes what was happening all around you (including you), the background. Also it refers to ongoing events, habits, what used to be.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\">\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>The pass\u00e9 compos\u00e9<\/strong> expresses&nbsp;what took place at a precise moment: a specific event or a succession of specific events, the main storyline.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-2299cd230793e736c194675391aa890d\">Now it\u2019s time to explain the differences between pass\u00e9 compos\u00e9 and imparfait in French.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:45px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong>1) Habits versus specific events<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-59b25994a55eaa4b478f3bf80859e445\">\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">The imparfait describes an action or a habit that took place repeatedly in the past<br>The equivalent in English would be \u00ab\u00a0I used to\u00a0\u00bb or \u00ab\u00a0I would\u00a0\u00bb + verb.<br>Example: <em>Quand j\u2019\u00e9tais jeune, <\/em><strong>j\u2019allais<\/strong><em> tous les weekends voir ma grand-m\u00e8re.<br><\/em>When I was young, I used to go (I would go) every weekend to see my grandmother.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">The passe compos\u00e9 refers to a punctual and completed action which has taken place in the past<br>Example: Hier, je suis all\u00e9(e) au magasin et j\u2019ai achet\u00e9 une nouvelle robe! Yesterday I went to the store and I bought a new dress.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong>2) When you are telling a story<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-a05b90a4d8a2558df8357e24d7a979fe is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-d5a00a63cd2182e287c917dd0df3b0e7\">The pass\u00e9 compos\u00e9 describes <strong>actions<\/strong> that constitute the storyline. It tells the series of specific events that took place.<br>Example: Hier nous sommes all\u00e9s au cin\u00e9. (Yesterday we went to the movies)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">The imperfect describes <strong>the background<\/strong>, it sets the scene:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">the date, the time of the day, the weather, the scene (what people were doing)\u2026.. external circumstances,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">age, feelings, appearance, physical condition, physical traits, attitudes\u2026. personal circumstances.<br>Example: Il n&rsquo;y <u>avait<\/u> personne dans la cour, le silence et l&rsquo;obscurit\u00e9 <u>r\u00e9gnaient<\/u> partout.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong>3) Imparfait and pass\u00e9 compos\u00e9 used in the same sentence<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-8e0450e7178ad9d10b582b20f1c46c71\">\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">The imperfect describes ongoing background actions, what was happening at that time (often with a \u201cto be + ing\u201d construction in English) \u2013 these actions had started before, and may continue after.<br>The PC will describe a specific action that took place at a precise time as the background action was going on:<br>Example: Ils sont entr\u00e9s pendant que nous dormions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">Sometimes, the same tense is used for the 2 actions if they are of same length <em><br><\/em>\u2013 2 actions that went on for some time:<em><br><\/em>Example: Tandis que que j\u2019apprenais mes le\u00e7ons de fran\u00e7ais, tu regardais la t\u00e9l\u00e9vision.<br>\u2013 or 2 specific shorter actions:<br>Example: Tu es rentr\u00e9e quand je suis sortie.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:24px\"><strong>4) Expressions used with the imparfait or pass\u00e9 compos\u00e9<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:22px\"><strong>Some expressions are followed by the imperfect in French<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-adcdd11bbd0ce6fea8df47a8279f6d9c\">The following expressions of time are generally used with the imperfect since they introduce&nbsp;recurrent&nbsp;events<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-fdfa519654a0e82ae9defe61781a4375\">\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">d\u2019habitude, habituellement \u2013 usually, habitually<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">g\u00e9n\u00e9ralement, en g\u00e9n\u00e9ral \u2013 in general<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">normalement \u2013 usually<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">quelquefois, parfois \u2013 sometimes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">de temps en temps \u2013 from time to time<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">le jeudi, le matin, l\u2019apr\u00e8s-midi \u2013 On Thursdays, in the morning, in the afternoon,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">tous les mercredis, tous les jours&nbsp; \u2013 Every Wednesday, everyday<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">chaque jour, chaque mois, chaque ann\u00e9e &nbsp;\u2013 Each day, month, year\u2026<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">rarement \u2013 rarely, seldom<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">autrefois (formal) \u2013 in the past, formerly<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:22px\"><strong>Other expressions of time are used with the pass\u00e9 compos\u00e9 <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">As they usually introduce specific events:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-block-list wp-elements-5dabe638492d946f2e011f973c30be6d\">\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">d\u2019abord, premi\u00e8rement \u2013 first<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">puis, ensuite \u2013 then<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">enfin, finalement \u2013 finally<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">soudain \u2013 suddenly<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">tout \u00e0 coup \u2013 all of a sudden<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-medium-font-size\">tout de suite \u2013 right away<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:22px\"><strong>Here are some examples of use with the imparfait or pass\u00e9 compos\u00e9<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-ca8a6724960b0c27f5846f346aae2c2c\">Lorsque&nbsp;j&rsquo;<strong>habitais<\/strong> \u00e0 Paris, je <strong>travaillais <\/strong>dans le XII\u00e8me arrondissement et j&rsquo;<strong>allais <\/strong>tous les jours au travail en bus.<br>Chaque ann\u00e9e je <strong>prenais <\/strong>mes vacances en juillet et je <strong>passais <\/strong>un mois au Laos.<br>Un jour, j&rsquo;<strong>ai re\u00e7u <\/strong>une proposition d&#8217;emploi \u00e0 Londres. J&rsquo;<strong>ai d\u00e9cid\u00e9 <\/strong>de l&rsquo;accepter et peu apr\u00e8s j&rsquo;<strong>ai d\u00e9m\u00e9nag\u00e9.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote has-medium-font-size\"><blockquote><p>Struggling with the tenses? Caroline&rsquo;s <em>French grammar<\/em> <em>courses in Paris<\/em> are open to students of all levels, from complete beginner to advanced. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.frenchcourses-paris.com\/french-classes-in-paris-contact-caroline\/\" title=\"Contact Caroline for more information on her French classes in Paris\">Get in touch with her<\/a> for more information.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This French lesson will teach you the difference between pass\u00e9 compos\u00e9 and imparfait in French Pass\u00e9 compos\u00e9 and imparfait cannot [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":9900,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,2618],"tags":[2611,2609,2613,2612,2616,2610,2614,2615,2617,2608],"class_list":["post-9899","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-french-courses-paris","category-french-grammar","tag-difference-between-the-imparfait-and-the-passe-compose","tag-differences-between-passe-compose-and-imparfait-in-french","tag-examples-of-use-with-the-imparfait","tag-expressions-of-time","tag-expressions-used-with-the-imparfait","tag-imparfait-and-passe-compose","tag-imparfait-and-passe-compose-used-in-the-same-sentence","tag-imparfait-or-passe-compose","tag-passe-compose-and-imparfait-in-french","tag-passe-compose-versus-imparfait"],"aioseo_notices":[],"modified_by":"Caroline","uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/www.frenchcourses-paris.com\/images\/2017\/02\/le-passe-compose-les-verbes-en-ir-re-oir.jpg",807,397,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.frenchcourses-paris.com\/images\/2017\/02\/le-passe-compose-les-verbes-en-ir-re-oir-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.frenchcourses-paris.com\/images\/2017\/02\/le-passe-compose-les-verbes-en-ir-re-oir-300x148.jpg",300,148,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.frenchcourses-paris.com\/images\/2017\/02\/le-passe-compose-les-verbes-en-ir-re-oir-768x378.jpg",768,378,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.frenchcourses-paris.com\/images\/2017\/02\/le-passe-compose-les-verbes-en-ir-re-oir.jpg",807,397,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.frenchcourses-paris.com\/images\/2017\/02\/le-passe-compose-les-verbes-en-ir-re-oir.jpg",807,397,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.frenchcourses-paris.com\/images\/2017\/02\/le-passe-compose-les-verbes-en-ir-re-oir.jpg",807,397,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Caroline","author_link":"https:\/\/www.frenchcourses-paris.com\/fr\/author\/caroline\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"This French lesson will teach you the difference between pass\u00e9 compos\u00e9 and imparfait in French Pass\u00e9 compos\u00e9 and imparfait cannot [&hellip;]","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.frenchcourses-paris.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9899","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.frenchcourses-paris.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.frenchcourses-paris.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.frenchcourses-paris.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.frenchcourses-paris.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9899"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.frenchcourses-paris.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9899\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19310,"href":"https:\/\/www.frenchcourses-paris.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9899\/revisions\/19310"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.frenchcourses-paris.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9900"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.frenchcourses-paris.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9899"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.frenchcourses-paris.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9899"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.frenchcourses-paris.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9899"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}