PASSÉ COMPOSÉ V. IMPARFAIT

Which one do I use?!

PASSÉ COMPOSÉ

Used to narrate specific events, with specific start and stop times

Talks about something that happed a single time

Could also be used to describe something that happened a distinct number of times

Used when an action interrupts another action

IMPARFAIT

Known as the “describer”; used to set the scene

Describes an ongoing action with no specified completion

Used to describe something habitual, or recurring

Used to describe the background action, what is ongoing

There is also a set of circumstances to be used as a guide, that if met, require imparfait to be used (WATERLOAD)

WATERLOAD ( IMPARFAIT)

W ~ Weather

A ~ Age

T ~ Time

E ~ Emotion

R ~ Repeated Action

L ~ Location

O ~ Ongoing Action

A ~ Attitude

D ~ Description

PRACTICE

“I was going to France”

J’allais en France

PRACTICE

“I went to France”

Je suis allé en France

PRACTICE

“I visited a monument”

J’ai visité un monument

PRACTICE

“I was visiting monuments”

Je visitais des monuments

PRACTICE

“I traveled in France last year”

J’ai voyagé en France l’année dernière

PRACTICE

“I was afraid of dogs”

J’avais peur des chiens

PRACTICE

“I was scared when the dog barked”

J’ai eu peur quand le chien a aboyé