14.3.11

When to Use the Imperfect vs the Perfect

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Imperfect vs Perfect

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

Perfect

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

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

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

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.
Jump to other topics
1

Phonics/Alphabet/Spellings

1.1

Alphabet & Accents

1.1.1The Alphabet1.1.2Accents
2

Family & Relationships

2.1

Family

2.1.1My Name2.1.2My Age2.1.3Talking About Yourself2.1.4Adjectives Must Agree2.1.5Colours2.1.6Hair and Eyes2.1.7Physical Appearance2.1.8Personality2.1.9Family Members2.1.10Eldest & Youngest2.1.11Other Family Members2.1.12Immediate Family - Listening2.1.13Extended Family - Listening2.1.14Family Life - Listening2.1.15Family in Paris - Listening2.1.16Numbers 1-102.1.17Numbers 11-202.1.18Numbers 21-292.1.19Numbers 30-1002.1.20Months of the Year2.1.21What Time Is It?2.1.22Time of the Year2.1.23Years2.1.24Describing Others - Physical Appearance2.1.25Describing Others - Personality2.1.26Friends2.1.27Pets2.1.28Days of the Week2.1.29Frequency
2.2

Family - Vocabulary

2.2.1Talking About Yourself - English to French2.2.2Talking About Yourself - French to English2.2.3Family - English to French2.2.4Family - French to English2.2.5Colours - English to French2.2.6Colours - French to English2.2.7Friends - English to French2.2.8Friends - French to English
2.3

Relationships

2.3.1Couples2.3.2Single2.3.3Weddings2.3.4Marriage & Divorce2.3.5Love2.3.6Cohabitation2.3.7Good & Bad Relationships2.3.8Ideal Partners
3

Home

3.1

Home

3.1.1Where I Live3.1.2My House3.1.3Rooms of the House3.1.4In My House3.1.5Household Objects3.1.6Home Activities3.1.7Chores3.1.8My Home - Listening3.1.9My Furniture - Listening
3.2

Home - Vocabulary

3.2.1Home - English to French3.2.2Home - French to English
4

Customs & Traditions in French Speaking Countries

4.1

Customs & Traditions in French Speaking Countries

4.1.1Customs & Traditions in French Speaking Countries4.1.2Celebrating4.1.3French Celebrations4.1.4Christmas Traditions4.1.5Christmas in France - Listening4.1.6National Holidays - Listening
4.2

Customs & Traditions - Vocabulary

4.2.1Customs & Traditions - English to French4.2.2Customs & Traditions - French to English
5

Lifestyle

5.1

Food

5.1.1Fruits5.1.2Vegetables5.1.3Meat & Fish5.1.4Drinks5.1.5Snacks5.1.6Ordering5.1.7Eating Out - Starters5.1.8Eating Out - Main Course5.1.9Eating Out - Dessert5.1.10Favourite Food - Listening5.1.11Breakfast - Listening5.1.12Restaurants - Listening
6

Sports & Games

6.1

Sports & Games

6.1.1Games6.1.2Jouer6.1.3Sports with 'jouer'6.1.4Faire6.1.5Sports with 'faire'6.1.6Exercise - Listening6.1.7Working Out - Listening
6.2

Sports - Vocabulary

6.2.1Sports - English to French6.2.2Sports - French to English
7

Health

7.1

Health

7.1.1Healthy Living7.1.2Unhealthy Living7.1.3Illness7.1.4Ache7.1.5Pains7.1.6Diets - Listening
7.2

Health - Vocabulary

7.2.1Healthy Living - English to French7.2.2Healthy Living - French to English7.2.3Unhealthy Living - English to French7.2.4Unhealthy Living - French to English
8

School

8.1

School

8.1.1'Ne... pas'8.1.2School Subjects8.1.3School Subjects 28.1.4The School Day8.1.5Describing Your School8.1.6School Rules8.1.7School Uniform8.1.8School Years8.1.9School Supplies8.1.10Classroom8.1.11Classroom Furniture8.1.12School Bags - Listening
8.2

School - Vocabulary

8.2.1School - English to French8.2.2School - French to English8.2.3School Life - English to French8.2.4School Life - French to English
9

Future Plans

9.1

Future Plans

9.1.1Jobs9.1.2Opinions9.1.3Places of Work9.1.4Further Education9.1.5Reasons Why9.1.6Ambitions9.1.7Jobs & Occupations - Listening9.1.8Aspirations - Listening
9.2

Future Plans - Vocabulary

9.2.1Further Education - English to French9.2.2Further Education - French to English9.2.3Jobs - English to French9.2.4Jobs - French to English
10

Leisure, Free Time & Media

10.1

Free Time

10.1.1Opinion Phrases10.1.2Conjugating Two Verbs10.1.3Music10.1.4Instruments10.1.5Cinema10.1.6TV10.1.7Books10.1.8Mobile Technology10.1.9Social Networks10.1.10Video Games10.1.11Advantages of Technology10.1.12Dangers of Technology10.1.13Social Media10.1.14Justifying Preferences10.1.15Weekend Activities - Listening10.1.16Summer Activities - Listening
10.2

Free Time

10.2.1Music - English to French10.2.2Music - French to English10.2.3Cinema & TV - English to French10.2.4Cinema & TV - French to English10.2.5Social Media - English to French10.2.6Social Media - French to English
10.3

Shopping

10.3.1Spending & Saving10.3.2Shopping10.3.3Money10.3.4Style & Fashion10.3.5Shopping for Clothes10.3.6Pocket Money10.3.7Part-Time Jobs10.3.8Fashion - Listening
11

Town & Region

11.1

Town & Region

11.1.1Places in the Town11.1.2Describing My Town11.1.3Things To Do11.1.4Improving My Town11.1.5Directions11.1.6Cities & Regions11.1.7Cities & Villages11.1.8Cities - Listening11.1.9Regions - Listening
11.2

Town & Region - Vocabulary

11.2.1Town - English to French11.2.2Town - French to English11.2.3Region - English to French11.2.4Region - French to English11.2.5Directions - English to French11.2.6Directions - French to English
12

Holidays

12.1

Holidays

12.1.1Masculine Countries12.1.2Feminine Countries12.1.3Going on Holiday12.1.4Accommodation12.1.5Activities12.1.6Making a Reservation12.1.7Making a Complaint12.1.8Good Weather12.1.9Bad Weather12.1.10French-Speaking Countries12.1.11Dream Holidays - Listening
12.2

Holidays - Vocabulary

12.2.1Holidays - English to French12.2.2Holidays - French to English12.2.3Going on Holiday - English to French12.2.4Going on Holiday - French to English12.2.5Countries - English to French12.2.6Countries - French to English12.2.7Weather - English to French12.2.8Weather - French to English
13

Global Issues

13.1

Global Issues

13.1.1To Waste Energy13.1.2To Save Energy13.1.3Environmental Problems13.1.4Priorities13.1.5Addressing The Problem13.1.6Volunteering13.1.7Volunteer Work13.1.8Social Causes13.1.9Human Rights13.1.10Human Rights 213.1.11Freedom - Listening
13.2

Global Issues - Vocabulary

13.2.1The Environment - English to French13.2.2The Environment - French to English
14

Grammar

14.1

Present Tense

14.1.1Regular ER Verbs14.1.25 Common ER Verbs14.1.3Regular IR Verbs14.1.45 Common IR Verbs14.1.5Regular RE Verbs14.1.65 Common RE Verbs14.1.7Irregular ER Verbs - Aller14.1.8Verbs That End in 'cer' and 'ger'14.1.9Stem Changing Verbs14.1.10Irregular IR Verbs Like 'Partir'14.1.11Irregular IR Verbs That End in 'vrir'14.1.12Irregular IR Verbs That End in 'enir'14.1.13Irregular IR Verbs With No Pattern14.1.14Modal Irregular IR Verbs14.1.15Prendre14.1.16Irregular RE Verbs That End in 'ttre'14.1.17Irregular RE Verbs With No Pattern14.1.18Irregular RE Verbs With No Pattern 214.1.19Reflexive Verbs14.1.20Avoir14.1.21Être14.1.22Faire14.1.23Aller14.1.24Modal Verbs - Vouloir14.1.25Modal Verbs - Pouvoir14.1.26Modal Verbs - Devoir
14.2

Perfect Tense

14.2.1Regular ER Verbs in the Perfect Tense14.2.2Regular IR Verbs in the Perfect Tense14.2.3Regular RE Verbs in the Perfect Tense14.2.4Irregular Past Participle With 'Avoir'14.2.5Irregular Past Participle With 'Avoir' 214.2.6Être RE Verbs14.2.7Être IR Verbs14.2.8Être ER Verbs14.2.9'Venir'14.2.10'Naître' & 'Mourir'
14.3

Imperfect Tense

14.3.1Imperfect Tense - Regular ER Verbs14.3.2Imperfect Tense - 5 Common ER Verbs14.3.3Imperfect Tense - Regular IR Verbs14.3.4Imperfect Tense - 5 Common IR Verbs14.3.5Imperfect Tense - Regular RE Verbs14.3.6Imperfect Tense - 5 Common RE Verbs14.3.7Imperfect Tense - Irregular ER Verbs14.3.8Imperfect Tense - Être14.3.9Imperfect Tense - Irregular IR Verbs14.3.10Imperfect Tense - Irregular RE Verbs14.3.11When to Use the Imperfect vs the Perfect
14.4

Future Tense

14.4.1Immediate Future14.4.2Future Tense - Regular ER Verbs14.4.3Future Tense - 5 Common ER Verbs14.4.4Future Tense - Regular IR Verbs14.4.5Future Tense - 5 Common IR Verbs14.4.6Future Tense - Regular RE Verbs14.4.7Future Tense - 5 Common RE Verbs14.4.8Future Tense - Irregulars14.4.9Future Tense - Irregulars 2
14.5

Conditional Tense

14.5.1Conditional Tense - Regular ER Verbs14.5.2Conditional Tense - 5 Common ER Verbs14.5.3Conditional Tense - Regular IR Verbs14.5.4Conditional Tense - 5 Common IR Verbs14.5.5Conditional Tense - Regular RE Verbs14.5.6Conditional Tense - 5 Common RE Verbs14.5.7Conditional Tense - Irregulars14.5.8Conditional Tense - Irregulars 2
14.6

Passive

14.6.1Present Passive Voice14.6.2Perfect Passive Voice14.6.3Future Passive Voice14.6.4Imperfect Future Passive Voice14.6.5Avoiding The Passive14.6.6Making The Passive Active
14.7

Imperative

14.7.1Imperatives14.7.2Irregular Imperatives
15

Other Grammar

15.1

Nouns

15.1.1The, A15.1.2Some15.1.3Masculine15.1.4Masculine 215.1.5Feminine15.1.6Feminine 215.1.7Masculine Plurals15.1.8Feminine Plurals15.1.9Irregular Plurals15.1.10Suffixes
15.2

Adjectives

15.2.1Adjectives Must Agree15.2.2Irregular Agreements15.2.3No Pattern Irregulars15.2.4Adjectives Which Change Their Meaning15.2.5Before the Noun15.2.6Before the Noun 215.2.7After the Noun15.2.8Comparing Adjectives15.2.9Superlative Adjectives15.2.10Good, Better, Best15.2.11Patterns15.2.12Masculine and Feminine
15.3

Pronouns

15.3.1Subject Pronouns15.3.2Direct Object Pronouns15.3.3Indirect Object Pronouns15.3.4Reflexive Pronouns15.3.5Indefinite Pronouns15.3.6'Y' & 'En'
15.4

Adverbs

15.4.1Adding 'ment'15.4.2Exceptions15.4.3Good, Badly, Fast
15.5

Infinitive Phrases

15.5.1Infinitive Phrases
15.6

Conjunctions

15.6.1But, And15.6.2Then, So15.6.3Because, While15.6.4However, For Example
15.7

Negatives

15.7.1'Ne...pas'15.7.2Other Negatives15.7.3Negative Sentences
15.8

Prepositions

15.8.1In, To, Of15.8.2Verbs That Use 'A' or 'De'
15.9

Asking Questions

15.9.1What, Which, Where?15.9.2How, When?15.9.3'Est-ce que...'

Practice questions on When to Use the Imperfect vs the Perfect

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    What is the correct way to say 'it was cold' in French?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    How would you translate the phrase "Tous les lundis, je jouais au foot" to English?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    What is the English translation of the French phrase "Il faisait froid"?Multiple choice
  4. 4
    In French, the imperfect tense is used when one action ______ another action in the past. What could fill in the blank?Multiple choice
  5. 5
    What is the English translation of the French phrase "Il mangeait son repas"?Multiple choice
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Imperfect Tense - Irregular RE Verbs

Immediate Future