Passê Composé vs Imparfait

White L.A2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Passê Composé vs Imparfait

Mes parents ont toujours été là pour moi.  Can you help me understand why PC was used and not Imparfait?  To me,  it seems like a statement of actions that were ongoing or repeated in the past over an undefined period.  Merci pour vos conseils !

Asked 2 years ago
CélineKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Bonjour White,

Jim is correct! The action started in the past and it is enduring with the adverb 'toujours' that gives a sense of something that was and still is true. When combined with 'toujours', Le Passé Composé conveys a fact that was and is still true and will be most likely true in the future.

See previous answer to a similar question:  j'ai TOUJOURS voulu reprendre des leçons

I hope this is helpful.

Bonne journée !

Jim J.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Hi White,

"Have been" __ completed and enduring -- not transient

It is not a past action --  but current - a fact in the mind of the speaker.

This is how I see it  -- hope it helps

Jim

Passê Composé vs Imparfait

Mes parents ont toujours été là pour moi.  Can you help me understand why PC was used and not Imparfait?  To me,  it seems like a statement of actions that were ongoing or repeated in the past over an undefined period.  Merci pour vos conseils !

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