"qu'on pouvait passer ses vacances ainsi" Why l'imparfait and not le conditionnel?

Laura G.C1Kwiziq community member

"qu'on pouvait passer ses vacances ainsi" Why l'imparfait and not le conditionnel?

"qu'on pouvait passer ses vacances ainsi"   Why l'imparfait and not le conditionnel?

Asked 1 year ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Laura, 

Please take a look at the answers to a similar question explaining how in English 'could' can in French be an imparfait or a conditionnel.

https://progress.lawlessfrench.com/questions/view/if-she-could-fly-she-would-go-to-the-moon

 

 

Hope it helps!

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

In this sentence, the imperfect is used because it is a general statement about the past and not about a specific event. The general nature of the statement is also underlined by the use of on.

"qu'on pouvait passer ses vacances ainsi" Why l'imparfait and not le conditionnel?

"qu'on pouvait passer ses vacances ainsi"   Why l'imparfait and not le conditionnel?

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