7.3.11

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:

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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.
Illustrative background for ImperfectIllustrative background for Imperfect ?? "content

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.
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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.
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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.

Imperfect vs Perfect

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

Illustrative background for PerfectIllustrative background for Perfect ?? "content

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.
Illustrative background for ImperfectIllustrative background for Imperfect ?? "content

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.
Illustrative background for ImperfectIllustrative background for Imperfect ?? "content

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.
Illustrative background for ImperfectIllustrative background for Imperfect ?? "content

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

1Phonics/Alphabet/Spellings

1.1Alphabet & Accents

2Family & Home

3Lifestyle

4Education & Future Plans

5Leisure, Free Time & Media

6Wider World

7Grammar

7.1Present Tense

7.2Perfect Tense

7.3Imperfect Tense

7.4Future Tense

7.5Conditional Tense

7.6Passive

7.7Imperative

8Other Grammar

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