Imperfect vs Perfect: Which One to Use?

Test yourself

Imperfect vs Perfect

Here are when you should use the perfect tense in French and when you should use the imperfect:

Perfect

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.

Imperfect

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.

Imperfect

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.

Imperfect

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.

1Everyday Activities

2Personal & Social Life

2.1Self, Family & Friends

2.1.1Greetings

2.1.2How Are You?

2.1.3Describing Yourself

2.1.4Physical Appearance

2.1.5Personality

2.1.6Family Members

2.1.7Other Family Members

2.1.8Role Model

2.1.9Childhood

2.1.10Friends

2.1.11Opinions on Friends

2.1.12Relationships

2.1.13Self, Family & Friends - Listening

2.2In the Home

2.2.1Home

2.2.2Rooms of the House

2.2.3In Your House

2.2.4Furniture & Furnishing

2.2.5Household Appliances

2.2.6Daily Routine

2.2.7Chores

2.2.8Pocket Money

2.2.9Home: Verbs & Expressions

2.2.10Routine - Listening

2.2.11In the Home - Listening

2.3Colours

2.3.1Colours

2.3.2More Colours

2.3.3Colours - Listening

2.4Clothes & Accessories

2.4.1Clothes (1/2)

2.4.2Clothes (2/2)

2.4.3Accessories

2.4.4Style & Fashion

2.4.5Clothes & Accessories: Verbs

2.4.6Clothes - Listening

2.5Leisure Time

2.5.1Free Time

2.5.2Music

2.5.3Cinema

2.5.4TV

2.5.5Sport

2.5.6Why Do You Play Sports?

2.5.7Different Sports

2.5.8Sports With Jouer

2.5.9Sports With Faire (1/2)

2.5.10Sports With Faire (2/2)

2.5.11Cinema & TV - Listening

3The World Around Us

3.1People & Places

3.1.1Continents

3.1.2Masculine Countries

3.1.3Feminine Countries

3.1.4Nationalities

3.1.5Compass Points

3.1.6People & Places - Listening

3.2Natural World, Environment, Climate & Weather

3.2.1The Environment

3.2.2Animals

3.2.3Good Weather

3.2.4Bad Weather

3.2.5The Climate - Verbs & Expressions

3.2.6Natural World - Listening

3.3Communications & Technology

3.3.1The Digital World (1/2)

3.3.2The Digital World (2/2)

3.3.3Social Media

3.3.4Documents & Texts

3.3.5Mobile Technology

3.3.6Social Media - Listening

3.3.7Mobile Technology - Listening

3.4The Built Environment

3.4.1Where Do You Live?

3.4.2What is There in Your Region?

3.4.3Places in the Town

3.4.4Things to Do

3.4.5Shops

3.4.6Money Matters

3.4.7The Built Environment - Listening

3.5Measurements

3.5.1Measurements

3.5.2Measurements - Listening

3.6Materials

3.6.1Materials

3.6.2Materials - Listening

4The World of Work

4.1Education

4.1.1School Routine

4.1.2Subjects (1/4)

4.1.3Subjects (2/4)

4.1.4Subjects (3/4)

4.1.5Subjects (4/4)

4.1.6School Life

4.1.7School Trips

4.1.8Education Post-16

4.1.9Learning a Language

4.1.10Education - Listening

4.2Work

4.2.1Jobs (1/2)

4.2.2Jobs (2/2)

4.2.3Career (1/2)

4.2.4Career (2/2)

4.2.5The Workplace

4.2.6Job Applications

4.2.7Charity

4.2.8Work: Verbs & Expressions

4.2.9Work - Listening

5The International World

5.1Culture, Customs, Faiths & Celebrations

5.1.1Culture, Customs, Faiths & Celebrations

5.1.2Festivals & Customs (1/2)

5.1.3Festivals & Customs (2/2)

5.1.4Religious Festivals

5.1.5Festivals in French-Speaking Countries - Listening

6Common Tenses

6.1Present Tense

6.1.1Regular ER Verbs

6.1.2Regular IR Verbs

6.1.3Regular RE Verbs

6.1.4Reflexive Verbs

6.1.5Irregular ER Verbs (1/2)

6.1.6Irregular ER Verbs (2/2)

6.1.7Irregular IR Verbs (1/2)

6.1.8Irregular IR Verbs (2/2)

6.1.9Irregular RE Verbs (1/3)

6.1.10Irregular RE Verbs (2/3)

6.1.11Irregular RE Verbs (3/3)

6.1.12Present Participle (1/2)

6.1.13Present Participle (2/2)

6.1.14Irregular Present Participles

6.1.15Avoir & Être

6.1.16'Depuis' + Present Tense

6.1.17'Venir De' + Present Tense

6.2Perfect Tense

6.2.1Avoir (1/2)

6.2.2Avoir (2/2)

6.2.3Irregular Past Participles (1/2)

6.2.4Irregular Past Participles (2/2)

6.2.5Être ER Verbs

6.2.6Être IR & RE Verbs

6.2.7Irregular Être

6.2.8Avois & Être - Perfect Infinitive

6.2.9Être - Perfect Passive

6.3Imperfect tense

6.3.1Regular ER Verbs

6.3.2Regular IR Verbs

6.3.3Regular RE Verbs

6.3.4Irregular ER Verbs

6.3.5Irregular IR Verbs

6.3.6Irregular RE Verbs

6.3.7Être