Using imperfect or passe compose??

Pippa G.B2Kwiziq community member

Using imperfect or passe compose??

When I was young... I use etais but to say he was promoted you don't say il etait promu but il a ete promu and I don't understand why you use this and not the imperfect. Please explain! I can't add accents on this so forgive me they are missing

Asked 2 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Pippa, 

When to use the passé composé or imparfait is extremely difficult for non-French natives and this question has been asked before.

Take a look at the answers to a similar question in the hope that it may clarify matters for you -

https://progress.lawlessfrench.com/questions/view/l-imparfait-vs-le-passe-compose

 

Hope it helps!

Jim J.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Hi Pippa,

It can be confusing to differentiate between when to use l'imparfait v passé composé.

"Quand j'était jeune." This is to reminisce a previous past progressive situation - not complete, but continuous historically.

"Il a été promu." This is a completed action  --  the person has been elevated to a more senior status.

Hope this helps.

Bonne continuation

Jim

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

French imperfect is a lot like continuous form in English. Ask yourself: would you say,

When he was young, he was being promoted. -- Quand il était jeune, il était promu.
When he was young, he was promoted. -- Quand il était jeune, il a été promu.

 

Using imperfect or passe compose??

When I was young... I use etais but to say he was promoted you don't say il etait promu but il a ete promu and I don't understand why you use this and not the imperfect. Please explain! I can't add accents on this so forgive me they are missing

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