Completed past and ongoing past.

Question

Hi can l’imparfait be used to describe both an ongoing action in the past and a completed action in the past?  For eg. why is Je lisais tous les jours, I study every day and  Je alles is marche, I was going to the market?

Céline Pickard · Accepted Answer

Bonjour Y D.,
L'imparfait is used for ongoing or habitual (or repeated) actions in the past. It is not used for completed actions which is what we use Le Passé Composé for.

Je lisais tous les jours = I used to read/I would read every day
J'allais au marché = I used to go/I would go to the market

-> L'Imparfait describes a past habit or an ongoing action in the past

J'ai lu tous les jours = I read every time
Je suis allé au marché = I went to the market

-> Le Passé Composé is used to refer to a one time action that is completed
 
I hope this is helpful.
Bonne journée !