awesomefrench:
Q : pouvez-vous expliquer les différences entres le passé composé et l’imparfait s’il vous plait? :)
Passé composé :
It’s about past events that really still linked to the present.
- Hier, il a neigé et ce matin, tout est recouvert de neige. (Linked to the present, the snow from yesterday is still there today.)
It’s also about events in the past, you don’t know when they ended, if they even ended.
- Ma grand-mère a gagné un concours à la radio, et grâce à cet argent, elle voyage beaucoup.
And finally, about everyday life events or dialogue.
- Je suis allée me couper les cheveux la semaine dernière.
- “Je suis allée me couper les cheveux la semaine dernière.” ” Et tu en es contente ?”
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Imparfait
Related to the past, it has no link to the present, it’s about an event fully done. Most of the time, you can know precisely when the event occured, even if it’s implied and not literaly said.
- Avant, je chantais dans une chorale. Maintenant que j’ai des enfants, je reste à la maison pour m’occuper d’eux.
> She had her first child in 1996, so she stopped singing in 1996. For example..
It can also be related to the present, this is a softer and more polite way to ask things in that case.
- “Je voulais vous demander si je pouvais emprunter votre stylo ?”
> “I wanted to ask you if I can borrow your pen ?” > Can I borrow your pen ?(A student to his teacher / An employee to his boss)
- On m’a dit que vous étiez un bon docteur, soignez-moi.
> Someone told me you are a good doctor, treat me.
