Notes les octobre Le passé composé vs. l’imparfait Although the passé composé and the imparfait are both past tenses, they have very distinct uses and are not interchangeable. The choice between these two tenses depends on the context and on the point of view of the speaker.

Uses of the passé composé To express specific actions that started and ended in the past and are viewed by the speaker as completed. Mes parents ont acheté un nouveau lit. My parents bought a new bed. Il a neigé ce matin. It snowed this morning. Mon fils a étudié en France pendant deux ans. My son studied in France for two years.

To indicate the beginning or end of a past action. Le concert a commencé à neuf heures et a fini à onze heures. The concert began at nine o’clock and ended at eleven o’clock.

To narrate a series of past events. Je suis arrivé à la maison, j’ai dîné et je suis allé au lit. I arrived home, I ate dinner and I went to bed.

Uses of the imparfait To express an ongoing past action with no reference to beginning or end. Les enfants faisaient leurs devoirs dans leurs chambres. The children were doing their homework in their rooms. Nous regardions le match chez les voisins. We were watching the game at the neighbors’ house.

To express repeated or habitual actions in the past. Mon père lavait toujours sa voiture le samedi matin. My father would always wash his car on Saturday mornings. Quand j’étais jeune, je jouais souvent à cache-cache avec les enfants d’à côté. When I was young, I often used to play hide-and-seek with the children next door.

To express mental, physical and emotional states. Vous étiez fatigués et aviez faim. You were tired and hungry.