Imparfait vs Passé Composé: How to Choose the Right French Past Tense
Learning to talk about the past in French can be confusing, especially when you have to choose between l’imparfait and le passé composé.
Both tenses are used to talk about past events, but they have different roles. The easiest way to understand the difference is to think about what you want to say about the past.
Are you describing a situation, a habit, or something that was happening? Use the imparfait.
Are you talking about a specific, completed event? The passé composé is usually the right choice.
Let’s look at the difference step by step.
1. When to Use the Imparfait
The imparfait is…
The skinny
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