How to Choose Between Imparfait and Passé Composé in French

Choosing between imparfait and passé composé is a common challenge for French learners.

This guide will help you understand when to use each tense, with plenty of examples to illustrate their differences.

Key Differences Between Imparfait and Passé Composé

Imparfait: Ongoing or Habitual Actions

The imparfait is used for:

1. Describing ongoing situations in the past
2. Talking about habitual actions
3. Setting the scene or providing background information

Passé Composé: Completed Actions

The passé composé is used for:

1. Specific, completed actions in the past
2. A series of consecutive actions
3. Actions with a clear beginning or end

Verbs That Often Use Imparfait

Some verbs are more likely to be used in the imparfait due to their nature:

• être (to be)
• avoir (to have)
• aimer (to like/love)
• penser (to think)
• croire (to believe)
• sembler (to seem)
• espérer (to hope)

Examples:

• J'étais heureux quand j'habitais à Paris. (I was happy when I lived in Paris.)
• Elle avait un chat quand elle était jeune. (She had a cat when she was young.)
• Nous pensions qu'il allait pleuvoir. (We thought it was going to rain.)

When to Use Passé Composé with These Verbs

Even verbs that often use imparfait can be used in passé composé when describing:

1. Sudden changes
2. Specific instances
3. Actions with clear beginnings or endings

Examples:

• J'ai été surpris par son arrivée. (I was surprised by his arrival.)
• Elle a eu une idée brillante. (She had a brilliant idea.)
• Nous avons pensé à vous hier soir. (We thought about you last night.)

Practical Examples: Imparfait vs Passé Composé

Let's look at some sentences that demonstrate the difference:

1. Weather:

   • Il faisait beau ce jour-là. (It was beautiful that day. - setting the scene)
   • Il a fait beau pendant notre voyage. (The weather was nice during our trip. - specific time period)

2. Feelings:

   • Je me sentais nerveux avant l'examen. (I was feeling nervous before the exam. - ongoing state)
   • Je me suis senti soulagé quand j'ai vu mes résultats. (I felt relieved when I saw my results. - sudden change)

3. Habits:

   • Quand j'étais enfant, je jouais au football tous les week-ends. (When I was a child, I used to play football every weekend. - habitual action)
   • Ce week-end, j'ai joué au football avec mes amis. (This weekend, I played football with my friends. - specific instance)

4. Descriptions:

   • La maison était grande et ancienne. (The house was big and old. - description)
   • Nous avons acheté une grande maison ancienne. (We bought a big, old house. - specific action)

5. Interrupted actions:

   • Je lisais un livre quand le téléphone a sonné. (I was reading a book when the phone rang. - ongoing action interrupted)
   • J'ai lu un livre hier soir. (I read a book last night. - completed action)

Tips for Choosing the Right Tense

1. Ask yourself: Is this action ongoing or completed?
2. Consider the context: Are you setting the scene or describing a specific event?
3. Look for time markers: Words like "soudain" (suddenly) often signal passé composé
4. Practice with authentic materials: Read French texts and analyze the tense usage

Conclusion

Mastering the difference between imparfait and passé composé takes practice.

By understanding their core functions and studying examples, you'll improve your French storytelling and conversation skills significantly.