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Imparfait v. Passé Composé
Imparfait vs. Passé Composé
The imparfait and the passé composé are both used to express past occurrences, but their uses are distinctly different.
Uses of Passé ComposéThe passé composé is used to express
completed
For example:Hier, j ’ai fini ma rédaction d ’anglais.Ce matin, nous avons vu un film dans la classe d ’histoire.
actionspast
Uses of Passé Composé
Hier, j ’ai fini ma rédaction d ’anglais.
In these sentences, whether or not it is stated, one could specify an exact time at which the event took place.(à 3h15)
(à 9h36)Ce matin, nous avons vu un film dans la classe d ’histoire.
Uses of ImparfaitThe imparfait, however, by definition, means imperfect. Its uses are much less clearly defined.
They fall into three basic categories:
habitual past actions continuing past actions conditions (non-actions)
(used to do)(was doing)
(did)
Habitual Past Actions
An habitual past action is one that occurred repeatedly over a long period of time.
For example:We used to play baseball every day.Nous jouions au baseball tous les jours.
Habitual Past Actions
Careful! Habitual past actions are not necessarily translated as « used to.. »
For example:Quand j ’étais jeune, je me promenais à l ’école tous les jours.
might be translatedWhen I was young, I walked to school every day.
The key is that the action occurred repeatedly in the past.
Continuing Past Actions
For example:Je faisais la vaiselle quand tu m’as téléphoné.I was doing the dishes when you called me.
The imparfait is also used to express actions that were going on when something else happened.
Continuing Past Actions
When it is used to express a continuing past action, the imparfait is often, but not always, used in combination with the passé composé. Examples:
Quand j’ai vu Charles, il parlait avec Georges.
Il faisait beau. Le soleil brillait et il y avait une belle brise. (Eventually, an action occurs in a later sentence.)
Conditions (non-actions)
There is a class of verbs which do not express action at all. Rather, they express conditions, states of being, or states of mind. When these verbs occur in a past tense, it is almost always the imparfait.
Conditions (non-actions)Some of these verbs are:
être avoir vouloirpouvoir savoir désirerconnaître pensercroirese sentir espérer aimerfaire (w/ expressions of weather)
Conditions (non-actions)Examples:
Quand j ’avais six ans, j ’aimais jouer au cache-cache.Ce matin, nous ne voulions pas aller à l ’école. Jean ne savait pas faire son devoir, et il était très frustré.
non-action
non-action
non-action
non-action
non-action
SummaryRemember that the passé composé is used to express completed past actions.
The imparfait expresseshabitual past actionscontinuing past actionsconditions (non-actions)
Test YourselfComplete the following sentences with the appropriate verb form:
Anne-Marie ______ en France quand
(habiter)elle __________. (se marier)
habitait
s ’est mariée
continuing past action
completed past action
Test YourselfQuand ils ____________ le château,
(quitter)ils _________ fatigués, et il (être)__________ très chaud. (faire)
ont quitté
faisait
étaient
completed past action
condition
condition
Test YourselfLe garçon ____________ à nos amis
(demander)ce qu ’ils ___________ prendre. Ils
(vouloir)____________ une glâce. (commander)
a demandé
ont commandé
voulaient
completed past action
condition
completed past action
Test YourselfQuand elle _________ plus jeune,
(être)Suzanne ________ français et
(parler)anglais. Mais elle __________
(oublier) l ’anglais.
était
a oublié
parlait
condition
habitual past action
completed past action
Test YourselfMa soeur __________ au football
(jouer)quand elle ___________ et (tomber)___________ la cheville.(se fouler)
jouait
s ’est foulé
est tombée
continuing past action
completed past action
completed past action
Test YourselfQuand j ’_________ neuf ans,
(avoir)j ’ __________ à Paris, et j(e) (habiter)_________ le métro tous les jours.(prendre)
avais
prenais
habitais
condition
condition
habitual past action
