imperfect vs. perfect tense

Barbara O.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

imperfect vs. perfect tense

Hi - Could someone explain why the phrase 'mais elle a toujours aimé cet instrument' is in the perfect tense and not the imperfect?  Doesn't the sentence imply that her 'liking' the instrument has no definite time frame and there is no indication of when or if she ever stopped 'liking' the accordion?  I also have the same question as Drew and Maren regarding 'mais elle l'a réussi' as an alternative answer to 'mais elle l'a eu'.  Thanks!

Asked 4 years ago
David R.A2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Perfect = she has always liked this instrument

Imperfect = she always used to like this instrument

You would use whichever means what you want to say I guess.

This discussion goes in to more detail about it - https://french.stackexchange.com/questions/27614/used-to-in-french/27615#27615

Barbara O.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Thanks!

imperfect vs. perfect tense

Hi - Could someone explain why the phrase 'mais elle a toujours aimé cet instrument' is in the perfect tense and not the imperfect?  Doesn't the sentence imply that her 'liking' the instrument has no definite time frame and there is no indication of when or if she ever stopped 'liking' the accordion?  I also have the same question as Drew and Maren regarding 'mais elle l'a réussi' as an alternative answer to 'mais elle l'a eu'.  Thanks!

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