Which One to Use?

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Imperfect vs Perfect

This is a guide on when you should use the perfect tense and when you should use the imperfect tense in French.

When to use the perfect tense in French

You use the perfect tense in French to talk about a completed and finished action in the past.
- E.g. Il a regardé la télé.
  - He watched the tv or he has watched the tv.
When you translate into English, you do not need to translate 'has', but you have to write it in French.

When to use the imperfect tense in French

The imperfect is used for descriptions in the past.
- Il faisait froid.
  - It was cold.
It is also used to talk about an ongoing action in the past.
- Il mangeait son repas.
  - He was eating his meal.
- Elle parlait à sa mère.
  - She was speaking to her mum.

When to use the imperfect tense in French 2

When one action interrupts another one in the past, you need to use the imperfect to talk about the interrupted action.
- Je cuisinais quand ils sont arrivés.
  - I was cooking when they arrived.

When to use the imperfect tense in French 3

You also need to use the imperfect to say what used to happen.
- Tous les lundis, je jouais au foot.
  - Every Monday I used to play football.

1Identity & Culture

1.1Me, my family and friends

1.1.1Describing Yourself

1.1.2Physical Appearance

1.1.3Personality

1.1.4Friends

1.1.5Opinions on Friends

1.1.6Relationships

1.1.7Family

1.1.8Other Family Members

1.1.9Me, My Friends & My Family - Listening

1.1.10Pets

1.1.11Style & Fashion

1.1.12Shopping for Clothes

1.1.13Materials

1.1.14Exam-Style Questions - Pets

1.2Time

1.2.1What Time Is It?

1.2.2Time of Year

1.2.3Day, Year

1.2.4Past

1.2.5Future

1.2.6Present

1.2.7Time Expressions

1.3Technology in Everyday Life

1.3.1Social Media

1.3.2Social Media - Listening

1.3.3Mobile Technology

1.3.4Mobile Technology - Listening

1.3.5The Internet

1.3.6Exam-Style Questions - The Internet

1.4Free-Time Activities

1.5Festivals in French-Speaking Countries

1.5.1Festivals & Customs

1.5.2Festivals in French-Speaking Countries - Listening

2Areas of Interest

3Study & Employment

3.1My Studies

3.1.1School

3.1.2School Routine

3.1.3School Life

3.1.4'Y' & 'En'

3.1.5Exam-Style Questions - School Life

3.1.6Further Education

3.2Employment

3.2.1Jobs

3.2.2Career

3.2.3Job Applications

3.2.4Reasons Why

3.2.5Learning a Language

4Common Tenses

4.1Present Tense

4.2Perfect Tense

4.2.1Perfect Tense - Regular ER Verbs

4.2.2Perfect Tense - Regular IR Verbs

4.2.3Perfect Tense - Regular RE Verbs

4.2.4Irregular Past Participles

4.2.5Irregular Past Participles 2

4.2.6Être ER Verbs

4.2.7Être IR Verbs

4.2.8Être RE Verbs

4.2.9Irregular Être - 'Venir'

4.2.10Irregular Être - 'Naître' & 'Mourir'

4.2.11Perfect Infinitive - Using Avoir

4.2.12Perfect Infinitive - Using Être

4.3Imperfect Tense

4.3.1Imperfect Tense - Regular ER Verbs

4.3.2Imperfect Tense - 5 Common ER Verbs

4.3.3Imperfect Tense - Regular IR Verbs

4.3.4Imperfect Tense - 5 Common IR Verbs

4.3.5Imperfect Tense - Regular RE Verbs

4.3.6Imperfect Tense - 5 Common RE Verbs

4.3.7Imperfect Tense - Irregular ER Verbs