se marier - simple past or passé composé?

Steven N.C1Kwiziq community member

se marier - simple past or passé composé?

In the examples we have "Elle se maria cette année-là." and in the quiz "Je me suis marié ce jour-là". I think the first is the simple past, the second passé composé - but why choose one over the other? Or are they equivalent?

This question relates to:French lesson "Ce, cet, cette, ces + [durée] -là/-ci = that/those or this/these + [duration] (French Demonstrative Adjectives)"

Asked 6 years ago

Like1Answer1

CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Steven,

'Elle se maria' is in the passé simple ( past historic).

'Je me suis marié' is in the passé composé .

They have the same value, but the passé simple is essentially a written tense used for narrating actions in the past (mainly found in literature) and the passé composé is its spoken equivalent.

You will not hear the passé simple spoken in every day speech.

Hope this helps!

Like16 years ago

Steven N. asked: