Scribd
Upload
160 views19 pages

Passe Vs Imparfait

This document provides instruction on the proper use of the passé composé and imparfait tenses in French. It discusses how the passé composé is used to describe defined moments or single events in the past, similar to simple past tense in English, while the imparfait describes ongoing or habitual actions and states over a period of time in the past, similar to "was/were + verb-ing" in English. Examples are given of sentences using each tense and how the meaning differs based on the tense. Criteria for determining whether to use imparfait, called "OH WHAT A DEAL", are also outlined.

Uploaded by

Danielle
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
160 views19 pages

Passe Vs Imparfait

This document provides instruction on the proper use of the passé composé and imparfait tenses in French. It discusses how the passé composé is used to describe defined moments or single events in the past, similar to simple past tense in English, while the imparfait describes ongoing or habitual actions and states over a period of time in the past, similar to "was/were + verb-ing" in English. Examples are given of sentences using each tense and how the meaning differs based on the tense. Criteria for determining whether to use imparfait, called "OH WHAT A DEAL", are also outlined.

Uploaded by

Danielle
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 19

Passé Composé vs.

Imparfait
Describing past events…
Let’s review the conjugations…choose a different
subject (je, tu, il/elle/on, nous, vous, ils/elles)
Write each verb on your notecard in the passé
composé and the imparfait.
SORTEZ LES NOTES!
Passé Composé vs. Imparfait
Describing past events…
En anglais! Write about your evening last night for
Halloween or a Halloween party you went to or a past
Halloween outing. Tell what you did and describe what it
was like….
Last night, I went trick-or-treating with my kids. We went to
our friend’s neighborhood and it was awesome! However, it
was really hot. My kids were wishing that they picked
costumes that weren’t long-sleeved. They got so much
candy, and they wanted to eat all of it! But, I did not allow
them to because it was really late. It was 9:00 when we
returned home. We were so tired!!
Get your PhD in Imparfait!

P
H
D
Get your PhD in Imparfait!

Progressive Actions
Habitual events
D escription
I was climbing. I fell.

Progressive 1 Time Event


Imparfait Passé Composé

I was working. I finished.


when it went off.
He was looking at
the firecracker...

Progressive 1 Time Event


Imparfait Passé Composé

He was seeing a lot of until he met me!


women... (Awe!)
Habitual Actions/ Repeated Events
Over and over and over… I used to do this.

fall down and hurt myself

skip stones on the lake

work at McDo!

I used to send text messages in class!

click my pens in class while taking hard tests.


The Imparfait
There is not an exact equivalent of this tense in
English.
Usually translated with the “was/were + verb-ing” or
the “used to verb” tenses, but it can be others as
well.
I was driving my car; We used to eat ice cream on
Sundays; It was a cloudy day.
-Represents an ongoing event in the past, something
that is currently taking place in our story.
Passé Composé: Defined moments (i.e. on a timeline)

I was born.

I got an A on my imparfait exam in


French.

I got my uncle a fishing rod.

I climbed Mount Everest.


The Passé Composé
You know how to form it, but what does it mean?
There is not an exact equivalent in English, but the
closest is simple past
I ate; He read; She won; You understood.
-Represents a one time event in the past, something
that has both begun and ended in our story.
Cont’d
If you visualize a timeline, passé composé are the
single dots on the timeline. They take place at a
known time.
Imparfait are the long lines on our timeline. They
last for a period of time and take place around our
story, giving a description.
Comparing
ANY verb can be conjugated in both tenses, but it’s
the meaning of each that has to do with what we
want to say:
We drove to the movies.
We were driving to the movies.
The sentences are identical, other than the verb tense.
The 1st one is understood to be a single event, the 2nd
one you are expecting to hear something more about
what happened during the trip.
Eras of your life.
Continuous Progressive Actions/

I used to have short hair.

I used to go to Northeast Elementary

I used to know a girl named Ruth

I used to play basketball.

I used to watch Barney every day.


Les Règles – Passé Composé
Completed past action (CPA)
Limited amount of time
I nterrupting action***
hange in mental state
C
equence of events
S
Pourquoi est-ce que ces descriptions sont en imparfait
selon des catégories de OH WHAT A DEAL?
J’étais sportif.

Il pleuvait.

Il était 4h55.
J’avais froid.

J’étais dans le jardin.

J’étais décontracté et heureux dans


l’eau.
J’avais six ans.
Ma soeur avait sept ans.
Cut and Paste
PHYSICAL STATE EMOTION
TIME AGE
LOCATION APPEARANCE
PHYSICAL STATE WEATHER

Cut and Paste


PHYSICAL STATE EMOTION
TIME AGE
LOCATION APPEARANCE
PHYSICAL STATE WEATHER
Why are these descriptions imperfect due to criteria of
OH WHAT A DEAL?
I was athletic. Description

It was raining. WEATHER

TIME
It was 4:55.
I was cold. PHYSICAL STATE
I was in the garden.
LOCATION
I was relaxed and happy.
EMOTION
I was six. My sister was seven.
AGE
Choose the appropriate letter of the OH WHAT A DEAL criteria to use in determining the
imperfect use within each sentence.

1. ___ J’étais à l’école.


2. ___ Tu étais blonde.
3. ___ Il était 18h00.
4. ___ Mon amie était triste.
5. ___ Mes frères voulaient un chien.
6. ___ Il faisait chaud.
7. ___ Elle avait neuf ans.
8. ___ J’avais faim.
SOLUTION
Choose the appropriate letter of the DATE LAWS criteria to use in determining the imperfect use within each sentence.

1. _L_ J’étais à l’école.


2. _D_ Tu étais blonde.
3. _T_ Il était 18h00.
4. _E_ Mon amie était triste.

5. _E_ Mes frères voulaient un chien.

6. _W_ Il faisait chaud.


7. _A_ Elle avait neuf ans.
8. _S_ J’avais faim.

You might also like