What is the Passé Récent in French?

The Passé Récent, also known as the "recent past" or "immediate past," is a French tense used to describe actions that have just happened. It's a useful construction for talking about events that occurred in the very recent past.

Formation

The Passé Récent is formed using the following structure:

venir de + infinitive

The verb "venir" is conjugated in the present tense, followed by "de" and then the infinitive form of the main verb.

Examples

Here are some examples to illustrate the usage:

• Je viens de manger. (I have just eaten.)
• Elle vient d'arriver. (She has just arrived.)
• Nous venons de finir notre travail. (We have just finished our work.)

When to Use

Use the Passé Récent when:

1. Describing an action that has just been completed
2. Emphasizing the immediacy of a past action
3. Talking about events that are still relevant to the present moment

Comparison with Other Tenses

While the Passé Composé is used for completed actions in the past, the Passé Récent specifically emphasizes the recency of the action. For example:

• J'ai mangé. (I ate. - Passé Composé)
• Je viens de manger. (I have just eaten. - Passé Récent)

Practice Exercise

Try translating these sentences into French using the Passé Récent:

1. They have just left.
2. We have just finished our homework.
3. He has just called.

(Answers: 1. Ils viennent de partir. 2. Nous venons de finir nos devoirs. 3. Il vient d'appeler.)

Understanding and using the Passé Récent will help you express recent actions more accurately and naturally in French conversations.