I've seen: imparfait or passé composé ?

Craig B.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

I've seen: imparfait or passé composé ?

Why is "I've seen the neighborhood evolve" translated passé composé instead of imparfait?  "I've seen" describes something that happens over time and is not ended, it's continuous and I'm not done seeing.  Isn't that the case for imparfait?

Asked 2 years ago
Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

No, passé composé is used for something that started/happened/was true in the past and is still ongoing/happening/true now. If the speaker wants to indicate that a pas event is current as well - passé composé. If they wanted to say they saw it evolve within a specific time period - also passé composé. 

Imparfait would mean no longer seeing the neighbourhood evolving - more along the lines of a vaguer ‘I was seeing it evolve’ or ‘I used to see it evolve’, without clear time boundaries. If the speaker wanted to state they were not continuing to see ongoing evolution in the neighbourhood - imparfait would be used. 

This use is discussed in this external link - In comprehensible French with subtitles if required. Towards the end in the advanced use cases 

https://youtu.be/3rpQ5xeFneg

I've seen: imparfait or passé composé ?

Why is "I've seen the neighborhood evolve" translated passé composé instead of imparfait?  "I've seen" describes something that happens over time and is not ended, it's continuous and I'm not done seeing.  Isn't that the case for imparfait?

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