Imparfait v Passé Composé

Jim L.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Imparfait v Passé Composé

I'm confused as to why "we improved quickly" is in the passé composé rather than the imparfait. Surely the fact that they were quickly improving is an ongoing action in the past rather than something that happened "just like that" at one particular moment? (Having said that, reading the whole passage through again it clearly "feels" like it should be in the passé composé - I'm just not sure why....)

Asked 3 years ago
Jim J.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

Hi Jim,

It occurs to me that once improved, that action is complete.

Hope this helps.

Jim

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Using imperfect tense, this would sound to French ears as: "we were improving quickly" or "we used to improve quickly". Not the intended meaning.

Imparfait v Passé Composé

I'm confused as to why "we improved quickly" is in the passé composé rather than the imparfait. Surely the fact that they were quickly improving is an ongoing action in the past rather than something that happened "just like that" at one particular moment? (Having said that, reading the whole passage through again it clearly "feels" like it should be in the passé composé - I'm just not sure why....)

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