L'imparfait VS passe compose

  • in October 3 slideshow

  • Incomplete vs. Complete

    • the imparfait shows no indication of a definite ending

      • ex. J’étais à l’école.

    • PC indicates a complete action

      • ex. J’ai finis mes devoirs

  • Uncounted vs. Counted

    • the imparfait implies that something happened an undetermined (and possibly infinite amount) of times

      • ex. J’étudiais le lundi (I always used to study on Mondays)

    • PC implies something happened a specific time

      • ex. J’ai étudié lundi (I studied on Monday)

  • Ongoing vs. New

    • L’imparfait indicates a consistent state of being or feeling

      • ex. J’étais toujours fâchée à cause de la circulation

    • PC indicates a shift/change or temporality in feeling

      • ex. Pour l’instant, j’ai détesté le chocolat.

  • Completely in the past vs. Relevant to present day

    • Imparfait indicates something that was entirely in the past

      • ex. Quand j’y mangeais souvent au passé - When I often ate there in the past

    • PC started in the past but still continues today - is relevant to the present

      • ex. Il a toujours voulu être médecin - He always wanted to be a doctor

  • Background + event

    • Imparfait describes what was happening or how something was

      • ex. J’essayais d’étudier… ( I was studying)

    • when PC interrupts that action

      • ex. la cloche a sonné


  • imparfait is also used for Age, Description, Location, Time, Weather