Example of imparfait: J’avais peur des chiens ( I was afraid of dogs) and J’aimais les épinards. When imparfait denotes a physical or mental state, passe denotes a physical or a mental state at a particular moment. (I travelled in India last year) J’ai visité India trois fois. For example J’ai voyagé en India l’année dernière. On the contrary, passé composé is used for a single event or for an event that has happened for a number of times. (I travelled to India every year) and Je visitais souvent le ville (I often visited the city). For example Je voyageais en India tous les ans. It is also used for an action that has happened many times. Imparfait is also used for repeated or habitual actions. For example Je suis allé en India ( I went to India). passé composé is used for some events that started and ended in the past time. For example J’allais en India (I was going to India). Moreover, imparfait can also set the stage for a situation expressed with passé composé. In general terms, imparfait talks of past situations and passe compose speaks of specific situations. A person can use imparfait and passe compose in its correct way only if he or she knows the distinction between the two.įrench Imparfait is the English Imperfect tense and passe compose is present perfect tense in English. If these two tenses are not studied in depth and also not understood clearly, it can create confusion when using it. The tenses are perfectly regular.When studying French, one should have to give more details to the tenses - imparfait and passe compose. You are not just talking about a blunt fact, but more about a tragedy that, with a bit of imagination, you might almost see happening before your eyes.ģ) Here, depuis deux jours dénudait les arbres is just the background for the action cesser. But the author chose the imparfait for the same reason that you might say: in -365, the temple that took the Greek 120 years of time and energy was being taken down by Érostrate, instead of in -365 Érostrate destroyed a temple. We could use passé composé and then plus-que-parfait. 2 facts, one being anterior to the other. We need the passé composé for the most recent and the plus-que-parfait for the other one.Ģ) Here, this could be the same things. Whereas the imparfait is for something that lasts in time and serves as a background for something else.ġ) This is the most regular of the sentences you provided. Something punctual, or at least the conclusion of something that lasted. Just to complete it a little:įirst of all, keep in mind that the passé composé is used for a fact.
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