🇫🇷French Passé Composé vs Imparfait
Stop flipping a coin between passé composé and imparfait. Build the aspect-ear that French needs — snapshot vs. ongoing, auxiliary avoir vs. être — and prove it by writing a short childhood memory where both tenses carry their own job.
Phase 1Snapshot vs. Ongoing — The Aspect Split
See the snapshot-vs-ongoing split behind every past sentence
Passé composé is a photo, imparfait is a film
6 minPassé composé is a photo, imparfait is a film
Avoir is default, être is a short guest list
7 minAvoir is default, être is a short guest list
D'habitude is imparfait, un jour is passé composé
6 minD'habitude is imparfait, un jour is passé composé
Describe with imparfait, act with passé composé
7 minDescribe with imparfait, act with passé composé
Phase 2Picking the Right Tense in Context
Pick the right tense across narrative and description drills
Drill avoir vs. être before the tense choice
7 minDrill avoir vs. être before the tense choice
One event or ongoing state — pick one
7 minOne event or ongoing state — pick one
Same sentence, both tenses, one subject
7 minSame sentence, both tenses, one subject
Same verb, different tense, different meaning
7 minSame verb, different tense, different meaning
Find the tense mistake — don't fix it yet
7 minFind the tense mistake — don't fix it yet
Phase 3Trigger Words in Real Dialogue
Read trigger words that pre-announce the right tense
Your French teacher just asked about last weekend
7 minYour French teacher just asked about last weekend
Soudain, tout à coup, d'habitude — the giveaway words
7 minSoudain, tout à coup, d'habitude — the giveaway words
Catch every tense-switch in a 30-second clip
8 minCatch every tense-switch in a 30-second clip
Tell a three-minute story, alternating tenses
8 minTell a three-minute story, alternating tenses
Phase 4Your Childhood Memory in Both Tenses
Write a childhood memory that alternates both tenses
Write a childhood memory that forces both tenses
8 minWrite a childhood memory that forces both tenses
Frequently asked questions
- What's the real difference between passé composé and imparfait?
- This is covered in the “French Passé Composé vs Imparfait” learning path. Start with daily 5-minute micro-lessons that build from fundamentals to hands-on application.
- When do I use être instead of avoir as the auxiliary in passé composé?
- This is covered in the “French Passé Composé vs Imparfait” learning path. Start with daily 5-minute micro-lessons that build from fundamentals to hands-on application.
- Why does the same verb flip between passé composé and imparfait depending on context?
- This is covered in the “French Passé Composé vs Imparfait” learning path. Start with daily 5-minute micro-lessons that build from fundamentals to hands-on application.
- How do trigger words like soudain and d'habitude tell me which tense to use?
- This is covered in the “French Passé Composé vs Imparfait” learning path. Start with daily 5-minute micro-lessons that build from fundamentals to hands-on application.
- Why is writing a childhood memory the best test of passé composé vs. imparfait?
- This is covered in the “French Passé Composé vs Imparfait” learning path. Start with daily 5-minute micro-lessons that build from fundamentals to hands-on application.
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