Using imperfect or passe compose??

Question

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

Cécile Janty-Davies · Accepted 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://french.kwiziq.com/questions/view/l-imparfait-vs-le-passe-compose
 
Hope it helps!

Jim Jones · Answer

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 continuationJim

Chris Wirt · Answer

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.