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9.7. Le passé composé ou l’imparfait ?

Use of the Passé Composé versus the Imparfait

9.7.1. The Main Idea

French uses both the passé composé and the imparfait to talk about the past, but they do different jobs.

Le passé composé	completed past actions	des actions passées terminées
L’imparfait	descriptions, habits, ongoing situations, background	des descriptions, des habitudes, des situations en cours, le contexte.

Think of the passé composé as the event camera.

Think of the imparfait as the background lighting.

9.7.2. Passé Composé: Completed Events

Use the passé composé for completed actions or events.

Hier, j’ai étudié.	Yesterday, I studied.
J’ai mangé au restaurant.	I ate at the restaurant.
Je suis allé au cinéma.	I went to the movie theater. masculine speaker
Elle a acheté un café.	She bought a coffee.
Ils sont sortis hier soir.	They went out last night.

9.7.3. Imparfait: Descriptions and Background

Use the imparfait for descriptions, background information, and situations that were ongoing.

Il faisait froid.	It was cold.
J’étais fatigué.	I was tired. masculine speaker
La maison était calme.	The house was quiet.
Je regardais un film.	I was watching a movie.
Mon frère dormait.	My brother was sleeping.

9.7.4. Imparfait: Habits in the Past

Use the imparfait for repeated or habitual actions in the past.

Quand j’étais enfant, je jouais dehors.	When I was a child, I used to play outside.
Avant, je regardais des dessins animés.	Before, I used to watch cartoons.
Le week-end, nous allions au parc.	On weekends, we used to go to the park.
Tous les soirs, je faisais mes devoirs.	Every evening, I used to do my homework.

9.7.5. Passé Composé + Imparfait Together

Often, the imparfait gives the background, and the passé composé gives the completed event.

Je regardais un film quand mon ami a appelé.	I was watching a movie when my friend called.
Il pleuvait quand je suis sorti.	It was raining when I went out.
Je faisais mes devoirs quand ma mère est arrivée.	I was doing my homework when my mother arrived.
Nous étions au café quand le concert a commencé.	We were at the café when the concert started.

9.7.6. Same Verb, Different Meaning

The same verb can feel different depending on the tense.

J’ai regardé un film.	I watched a movie.
Je regardais un film.	I was watching a movie.

J’ai fait mes devoirs.	I did my homework.
Je faisais mes devoirs.	I was doing my homework. / I used to do my homework.

J’ai habité à Calgary pendant deux ans.	I lived in Calgary for two years, completed period.
J’habitais à Calgary.	I lived / used to live in Calgary, background or habit.

9.7.7. Time Expressions Often Used with the Passé Composé

hier	yesterday
hier soir	last night
la semaine dernière	last week
le mois dernier	last month
l’année dernière	last year
une fois	one time / once
soudain	suddenly
tout à coup	all of a sudden

These often point to completed events.

9.7.8. Time Expressions Often Used with the Imparfait

quand j’étais enfant	when I was a child
avant	before
à l’époque	back then
d’habitude	usually
souvent	often
toujours	always
tous les jours	every day
le week-end	on weekends
pendant que	while

These often point to habits, descriptions, or ongoing situations.

9.7.9. Choosing Between the Two

Ask yourself:

Is it a completed event?	Une action terminée.	Use the passé composé.
Is it a description?	Une description.	Use the imparfait.
Is it a habit or repeated action?	Une habitude.	Use the imparfait.
Is it background information?	Le contexte.	Use the imparfait.
Did something happen and interrupt the background?	Le contexte est à l’imparfait. L’événement est au passé composé.	Background = imparfait, event = passé composé.

9.7.10. Core Patterns

passé composé	completed event
J’ai mangé.	I ate.
Je suis allé(e).	I went.
imparfait	description / habit / ongoing situation
J’étais fatigué(e).	I was tired.
Je mangeais.	I was eating / I used to eat.
imparfait + quand + passé composé	background + event
Je mangeais quand il est arrivé.	I was eating when he arrived.

9.7.11. Practice

Yesterday, I studied. |

When I was a child, I used to play outside. |

It was raining. |

I went to the café. masculine speaker |

I was watching a movie when my friend arrived. |

She bought a coffee. |

The house was quiet. |

Every evening, I did my homework. |

Suddenly, he left. |

9.7.12. Answers

Yesterday, I studied.	Hier, j’ai étudié.
When I was a child, I used to play outside.	Quand j’étais enfant, je jouais dehors.
It was raining.	Il pleuvait.
I went to the café. masculine speaker	Je suis allé au café.
I was watching a movie when my friend arrived.	Je regardais un film quand mon ami est arrivé.
She bought a coffee.	Elle a acheté un café.
The house was quiet.	La maison était calme.
Every evening, I did my homework.	Tous les soirs, je faisais mes devoirs.
Suddenly, he left.	Tout à coup, il est parti.

9.7.13. Short Dialogue

A : Qu’est-ce que tu faisais hier soir ?	A: What were you doing last night?
B : Je regardais un film quand mon frère est arrivé.	B: I was watching a movie when my brother arrived.
A : Et après ?	A: And after that?
B : Après, nous avons mangé et nous avons parlé.	B: After that, we ate and talked.

9.7.14. Checkpoint

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to choose between the passé composé and the imparfait, using the passé composé for completed past events and the imparfait for descriptions, habits, ongoing actions, and background situations.

9.7.15. Try It Out

Try saying this in French:

I was studying when my friend called.

Yesterday, I studied.

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Possible answer:

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