Imparfait Vs. Passé Composé - Lingolia Français

Lingolia French DE EN FR ES Deutsch DE EN FR ES IT English DE EN FR ES IT Français DE EN FR ES IT Español DE EN FR ES Esperanto DE EN Level Test German English French Spanish All topics and exercises German English French Spanish Do a random exercise Free Exercise up to A1 level up to A2 level up to B1 level up to B2 level up to C1 level Lingolia Top 15 German English French Spanish ? ? ? ? ? Imparfait vs. Passé composé

What’s the difference between the imparfait and the passé composé?

Deciding between the imparfait and the passé composé can be tricky; although both are past tenses, they are used in very different contexts and cannot be used interchangeably.

Master the difference between these tenses with the examples and explanations below, then put your knowledge to the test in the free interactive exercises.

To learn more about each of the tenses individually, check out our dedicated pages on the imparfait and the passé composé.

Contents

• When to use the passé composé
• When to use the imparfait
• Signal Words
• Verb conjugation in the imparfait and passé composé?
• Exercises – Imparfait/Passé composé

1.0×

L’année dernière, je suis allée au bord de la Loire pour les vacances. J’ai fait une randonnée à vélo. Tous les matins, je reprenais la route et chaque jour, je traversais plusieurs villages. Souvent, je m’arrêtais pour parler avec les villageois.

Mes amis préféraient passer les vacances au bord de la mer. Donc, pendant que je pédalais, ils étaient sûrement assis sur le sable.

Mais un jour, pendant que je parlais avec un agriculteur, j’ai reçu un appel. Mes amis m’appelaient pour me dire combien le temps était horrible à la mer. Ils passaient leurs journées à l’intérieur! J’ai raccroché et j’ai ri.

When to use the passé composé

Generally speaking, the passé composé corresponds to the English simple past (did, worked, went …).

It talks about completed, sequential or one-time actions that took place on a specific occasion.

Use the passé composé to:

• answer the question que s’est-il passé? - what happened?

Example: J’ai reçu un appel.I received a call.

• express a past action that happened on a specific occasion (usually with a specific time marker)

Example: L’année dernière, je suis allée au bord de la Loire pour les vacances.Last year, I went to the Loire on holiday.

• express a one-time past action

Example: J’ai fait une randonnée à vélo.I went on a bike ride.

• list sequential past actions that happened one after another

Example: J’ai raccroché et j’ai ri.I hung up and I laughed.

• introduce a new past action that interrupted another that was already in progress (expressed in the imparfait)

Example: Mais un jour, pendant que je parlais avec un agriculteur, j’ai reçu un appel.But one day, while I was talking to a farmer, I received a call.

When to use the imparfait

The imparfait is similar to the English past progressive (was doing, were working …) or the structures used to and would.

It sets the scene, gives background description and expresses past actions that were repeated over time.

Use the imparfait to:

• answer the question qu’est-ce que /comment c’était? – what was something like? (e.g., weather, landscape, person)

Example: Le temps était horrible à la mer.The weather was horrible at the coast.

• express a repeated past action (used to, would)

Example: Souvent, je m’arrêtais pour parler avec les villageois.I would often stop to chat to the locals.

• talk about a past action whose beginning and end is unknown

Example: Ils passaient leurs journées à l’intérieur.They were spending their days inside.

• express simultaneously occurring past actions (while)

Example: Donc, pendant que je pédalais, ils étaient sûrement assis sur le sable.So while I was cycling, they were probably sitting on the beach.

• describe a continuous past action that were already in progress when another action (usually in the passé composé) interrupted

Example: Mais un jour, pendant que je parlais avec un agriculteur, j’ai reçu un appel.But one day, while I was chatting to a farmer, I received a call.

Signal Words

Passé composé	Imparfait
soudainsuddenly tout à coupsuddenly à ce moment-làat that time en 1998in 1988 hieryesterday l’année dernièrelast year ensuitethen, next puisthen aprèsafter, afterwards, next alorsthen	tous les joursevery day chaque foisevery time toujoursalways ne … jamaisnever souventoften le mardion Tuesdays d’habitudeusually quelquefoissometimes

To Note

The difference between the imparfait and the passé composé can also be applied to the imparfait vs.passé simple. The passé composé is used more often in spoken language, while the passé simple is preferred in written language.

Example: Mais un jour, pendant que je parlais avec un agriculteur, j’ai reçu un appel.But one day, while I was talking to a farmer, I got a call. (passé composé) → Mais un jour, pendant que je parlais avec un agriculteur, je reçus un appel.But one day, while I was talking to a farmer, I got a call. (passé simple)

Verb conjugation in the imparfait and passé composé?

Check out our dedicated pages to learn how to conjugate verbs in the passé composé and imparfait:

• Passé composé
• Imparfait

Online exercises to improve your French

Improve your French with Lingolia. Each grammar topic comes with one free exercise where you can review the basics, as well as many more Lingolia Plus exercises where you can practise according to your level. Check your understanding by hovering over the info bubbles for simple explanations and handy tips.

Imparfait/Passé composé – Free Exercise

1. Imparfait/Passé composé – free exercise

Lingolia Plus French

Unlock all grammar exercises for French with a Lingolia Plus account

• 1201 interactive grammar exercises for French
• sorted by topic and level (A1–C1)
• with a built-in progress tracker and awards system

Preview

Choose your account type 3 Months Lingolia Plus French Price: €12.00* 6 Months Lingolia Plus French Price: €21.40* (you save: €2.60) 12 Months Lingolia Plus French Price: €38.40* (you save: €9.60) * one-time payment, non-recurring Get a Lingolia Plus account to

• unlock all grammar exercises for your chosen language
• practise according to your level (A1–C1)
• enjoy an ad-free, subscription-free experience
• record your stats
• earn badges, build streaks and hit milestones

Next Continue to Checkout Learn more about Lingolia Plus

You will be redirected to our payment service provider Digistore24 to complete your order. Your Lingolia Plus login details will arrive via email following your purchase.

Imparfait/Passé composé – Lingolia Plus Exercises

1. Imparfait/Passé composé – emploi A2
2. Imparfait/Passé composé – indicateurs de temps (1) A2
3. Imparfait/Passé composé – indicateurs de temps (2) A2
4. Imparfait/Passé composé – description vs. action ponctuelle A2
5. Imparfait/Passé composé – durée imprécise vs. durée limitée A2
6. Imparfait/Passé composé – répétition vs. fait ponctuel A2
7. Imparfait/Passé composé – simultanéité vs. succession d’actions A2
8. Imparfait/Passé composé – aspect duratif vs. introduction d’un changement A2
9. Imparfait/Passé composé – mélange facile (1) A2
10. Imparfait/Passé composé – mélange facile (2) A2
11. Imparfait/Passé composé – mélange facile (3) A2
12. Imparfait/Passé composé – mélange (1) A2
13. Imparfait/Passé composé – Une carte postale A2
14. Imparfait/Passé composé – Le déménagement A2
15. Imparfait/Passé composé – Visite au musée A2
16. Imparfait/Passé composé – mélange (2) B1
17. Imparfait/Passé composé – mélange (3) B1
18. Imparfait/Passé composé – Louis XIV B2

A1 Beginner A2 Elementary B1 Intermediate B2 Upper intermediate C1 Advanced Gapfill Multiple choice Drag-and-drop Mixed Grammar Tenses – Indicative

• Overview : indicative tenses
• Présent
• Passé composé
• Imparfait
• Imparfait/Passé composé
• Passé récent
• Passé simple
• Plus-que-parfait
• Passé antérieur
• Futur proche
• Futur simple
• Futur antérieur
• Conditionnel
• Irregular Verbs

Verbs Verb Conjugator Nouns Articles Pronouns and Determiners Adjectives Adverbs Prepositions Sentence Structure Vocabulary Numbers, Dates, Time Countries Confusing Words Conjunctions Idioms Themed Vocabulary Vocabulary Calendar Listening/Reading Reading Comprehension Listening Comprehension Help Glossary Sitemap French

How good is your French?

Find out with Lingolia’s free grammar test

Take the test!

Maybe later