#french help

9 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

unkempt quail
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can any french speakers pls help me with the difference between the imparfait and the passé compose?? i kind of understand when you use each but the way my textbook explains it is really confusing lol

hidden shoal
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  • passé composé is for complete actions, whereas imparfait is usually incomplete actions
    e.g.
    passé composé: j'ai fait mes devoirs - i did my homework (finished action)
    imparfait: je faisais mes devoirs quand... - i was doing my homework when... (unfinished action)

  • imparfait is used for indefinite actions (like if when the action was started/stopped isnt clear)
    e.g. i went to school - j'allais à l'école (this one is a bit hard to explain sorry)

  • imparfait can be used for a past repetition of something, whereas passé composé is more when something happened once (i believe)
    e.g.
    passé composé: i read a book - j'ai lu un livre (happened once)
    imparfait: i used to read books - je lisais des livres (happened multiple times)

  • imparfait is also used to describe things in the past
    e.g. she was short (in the past) - elle était petite

not a native french speaker so i could be wrong abt some of this but this is what i was taught

gloomy belfry
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e.g. i went to school - j'allais à l'école (this one is a bit hard to explain sorry)
This example is either repetition, or indefinite action

#

In general, imparfait is for an action which duration is indefinite
Passé composé is for an action which duration is defined (could be once, or 3hours, etc.)
Like j'ai couru pendant 3 heures
Defined period
Je courais et je suis tombé
Indefinite - suddenly

errant lion
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Ah I haven't started imparfait yet and I'm already dreading it looking at this 😭

gloomy belfry
hidden shoal
unkempt quail
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omg thank u guys ;_; that makes so much more sense !! for some reason my textbook refuses to mention that imparfait is usually used for incomplete actions while passe compose is the opposite 😠

strong rose