Passe Compose Vs Imparfait-1
Passe Compose Vs Imparfait-1
Passe Compose Vs Imparfait-1
Explanation:
4. I took a long time to walk down the stairs while my mom bustled around in the
kitchen and prepared the breakfast.
Story telling
The passé composé is used to talk about the series of specific events that took place.
The imperfect describes the background, it sets the scene:
In the same sentence:
1. The imparfait describes ongoing background actions, what was happening at that time
(often with a “to be + ing” construction in English) – these actions had started before,
and may continue after.
2. The PC will describe a specific action that took place at a precise time.
3. When used in the same sentence, Imparfait will be used for the background action, the
longer action that’s going on, and Passé-composé for the specific shorter action.
Ex: Ils sont entrés (specific event – short in length) pendant que nous dormions
(ongoing action – longer in length). They came in as we were sleeping.
4. Sometimes, the same tense is used for the 2 actions if they are of same length.
- Two actions that went on for some time:
Ex : Pendant que j’étudiais, tu regardais la télé. (While I was studying, you
were watching TV.)
- or two specific shorter actions.
Ex : Tu es rentrée quand je suis sortie. (You came in as I was going out.)
Hint:
Passé-composé: What took place at the very moment: a specific event or a succession of
specific events, the main story line. (Imagine a selfie)
Imparfait : What was happening all around you (including you), background. Also, ongoing
events, habits what used to be. (Imagine a wide angle shot)
https://www.languagesonline.org.uk/French/Ks4/Perf_Imperf/Perf_Imperf_8.htm