Using the correct tense in the past
Using the correct tense in the past
Key Words & Phrases
Common phrases with imparfait
- Tous les (…): tous les jours, tous les matins, tous les soirs…
- Chaque (…): chaque mois, chaque jour, chaque matin…
- Le lundi, le jeudi, l’hiver…
- En général, généralement, d’habitude…
- Parfois, souvent, de temps en temps, jamais…
Common phrases with passé composé
- Hier, avant-hier…
- Un jour, un matin, un soir…
- La semaine dernière, le mois dernier, l’été dernier, l’année dernière…
- Soudain, tout à coup, d’un seul coup, tout de suite…
- Quand, lorsque…
Learn
Imparfait vs Passé composé
Imparfait vs Passé composé
Imparfait vs Passé composé
Lawless French: Imparfait vs Passé composé
Lingolia: Imparfait vs Passé composé
Cliffsnotes: phrases with imparfait and passé composé
Watch
French Lessons: Imparfait vs Passé composé
The perfect French with Dylane: Imparfait vs Passé composé
Easy Languages: Speaking about the past
Read
LanguageAtlas: Imparfait vs Passé composé
French Today: Imparfait vs Passé composé
Lawless French: verbs usually in the imparfait
Lawless French: different tenses for different meanings
Practice
Français facile: practice the past tenses
Lingolia: practice the past tenses
Lawless French: practice the past tenses
Quia: practice the past tenses
Using one of the recommended resources to get writing feedback, respond to the prompt below.
- Write sentences narrating the two events, as per the example. Use a phrase to link the actions together.
Example: Les enfants – pleurer / ils – s’endormir
=> Les enfants pleuraient. Soudain, ils se sont endormis.
- Nous – faire à manger / les invités – arriver
- Vous – se promener / nous – vous voir
- Je – changer une ampoule / je – tomber de l’échelle
- Les voisins – dormir / on – sonner à la porte
- Tu – aimer les fruits de mer / tu – devenir allergique
Using one of the platforms for finding a tutor or language exchange partner, practice the speaking activities below.
Partner Speaking Exercise:
- Think about a memory or a story, and describe it to your French-speaking partner. Describe the weather, the colors, and narrate the actions.
Ask your partner to ask you questions about it, using the imparfait and the passé composé. Then, listen to their story and ask them questions about it.
Independent Speaking Exercise:
- Think of daily ongoing actions and interruptions. You can use the ideas below if you do not feel inspired. Make five sentences, in French, using both the imparfait and the passé composé.
- Examples of ongoing actions: watching TV, someone was eating, talking to a friend, walking the dog, taking a shower.
- Examples of interruptions: the phone rang, they choked on their food (to choke: s’étrangler), someone asked for the time, it started snowing, the water became cold.
You can find instructions and a download link in our flashcards module.
Lesson Content
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