imparfait ou passé composé

Justin H.C1Kwiziq community member

imparfait ou passé composé

Sometimes I really struggle with deciding whether to use imparfait or passé composé. In this example, the English phrase is:

"I've always dreamed of going (there),

For me, I translated this to "Je rêvais toujours d'y aller," as it is something in the past, but not a fixed point with a clear start and stop. It is something that occurred over a period of time and is still occurring. However, the correct answer was passé composé with "J'ai toujours rêvé d'y aller,"

Can you please explain to my why passé composé is used here and not imparfait? I'm very frustrated and feel like this is something I'm never going to get.

Asked 4 days ago
CélineKwiziq Native French TeacherCorrect answer

Bonjour Justin,

Le Passé Composé is used here because it is an action that started in the past and is still ongoing with the use of "toujours".

Take a look at the link below:

Passé Composée use here

I hope this is helpful.

Bonne journée !

Justin H.C1Kwiziq community member

Okay, so digging three links down, from what I can tell the rules of passé composé and imparfait switch if you use modifiers like toujours, jamais, or souvent. Is that correct?

To extend this example:

Je rêvais d'y aller -> at some point in the past I dreamed of going there, I may have stopped or possible still do

J'ai rêvé d'y aller -> at a fixed point in the past I dreamt of going there, but no longer do

J'ai toujours d'y aller -> I have always dreamt of going there (past and present)

Je rêvais toujours d'y aller -> I dreamt of going there in the past, but no longer

Is there above correct?

Justin H. asked:

imparfait ou passé composé

Sometimes I really struggle with deciding whether to use imparfait or passé composé. In this example, the English phrase is:

"I've always dreamed of going (there),

For me, I translated this to "Je rêvais toujours d'y aller," as it is something in the past, but not a fixed point with a clear start and stop. It is something that occurred over a period of time and is still occurring. However, the correct answer was passé composé with "J'ai toujours rêvé d'y aller,"

Can you please explain to my why passé composé is used here and not imparfait? I'm very frustrated and feel like this is something I'm never going to get.

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