imparfait/passé composé distinction

Steve B.C1Kwiziq community member

imparfait/passé composé distinction

Would the meaning change if it began with "Je rêvais toujours..." to indicate a continuing/ongoing state of mind in the past?

Asked 4 years ago
Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

Yes, the meaning would change. The difference -- to French ears -- sounds like this:

J'ai toujours rêvé... -- I've always dreamed...
Je rêvais toujours... -- I was always dreaming...

The passé composé stresses the fact that there was a string of successive, individual events in the past. The imparfait makes it sound more like a  state of dreaming.

imparfait/passé composé distinction

Would the meaning change if it began with "Je rêvais toujours..." to indicate a continuing/ongoing state of mind in the past?

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