🤔Passé composé or Imparfait👟Des news de Paris ❤️Petit bonus
A fun combination of interesting topics and French language lessons🥖
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This is Carlito - the French Teacher that gives you the same feeling as when you’d hear the ice cream truck come into your hood and knew you were about to get a Choco Taco🍦
Here’s what I’ve got for you today:
🤔Passé composé or Imparfait
👟Des news de Paris
❤️Petit bonus
🤔Passé composé or Imparfait
Ah, the eternal struggle of French language learners.
Passé composé vs Imparfait.
It's like trying to choose between a croissant and a pain au chocolat – they're both delicious, but for different occasions😉
Today, I'll untangle the mystery of when to use “le passé composé” and when to use “l’imparfait”, so you'll never mix them up again.
By the end, you'll be able to order your croissants and pain au chocolat with confidence, and use “le passé composé” and “l’imparfait” like a true French pro.
So, let's get started and get ready to put your French past tense game on fleek!
In French, both “le passé composé” and “l’imparfait” are used to talk about the past, but they are used in different ways and for different types of actions or events.
“Le passé composé”
It is used to describe completed actions or events that happened at a specific point in time in the past.
Exemple:
Il a mis ses gants sur la cheminée en rentrant du travail.
“He put his gloves on the mantel when he came back from work”
He did it once, it's over, dated.
“L’imparfait”
On the other hand, “l’imparfait” is used to describe ongoing or repeated actions or events in the past (a description, talking about a habit…)
Exemple:
Quand il faisait froid il n'oubliait pas de mettre ses gants sur la cheminée.
“When it was cold, he would not forget to put his gloves on the mantelpiece”
Here, it is a habit😉
In general, “le passé composé” is used for actions or events that have a definite beginning and end, while “l’imparfait” is used for actions or events that were ongoing, habitual, or in progress in the past.
In complex sentences, indicator words will help you👍
Words like “soudain”, “brusquement”, “A ce moment-là”, “lorsque”, “aussitôt”, “alors”, “donc”, “par conséquent”…
Exemple:
Je marchais dans la rue (imparfait)… soudain/tout à coup/brusquement... elle m'a regardé (passé composé).
Il était malade (imparfait)… alors/donc/par conséquent… il est allé chez le docteur (passé composé).
Cool websites to practice⚒️
This website offers a series of quizzes and tests to help you practice and improve your understanding of French grammar (link)
This website provides explanations and examples of the difference between passé composé and imparfait, followed by several exercises to test your understanding of each tense (link)
👟Des news de Paris
It's time for a little update on what's happening right now in France and Paris🥐
I know some of you have been begging for this section – you're dying to know what the French are up to these days, aren't you?
Well, fear not, because I've got the scoop for you.
Ongoing protests over pension reform (link). Even the youth are joining in😂
Parisians to vote on banning e-scooters (link)
Electric scooters are a popular but controversial mode of transportation in Paris, and their use is the subject of ongoing debate and regulation.
The Paris Marathon is today (link)
It is a popular annual marathon hosted by the city of Paris. With over 40,000 participants each year, it is one of the most popular circuits in the world.
If you want to see the route, it's over there.
If you share this newsletter with your friends, you'll be doing your part to make the world a more French-tastic place. And who doesn't want that?!
❤️Petit bonus
I'm here to help you become the French speaker you've always wanted to be.
I'll share with you some resources that will make learning French not only easier but also fun.
Are you ready to add a new song to your playlist? I've got just the one for you!
If you like cheese, this is for you.
Are you in the mood for a good movie? Well, I've got a recommendation for you!
Let’s end up with some memes😆
D’ailleurs, je porte une “marinière” aujourd’hui😊
Your feedback means more to me than a freshly baked croissant in the morning, so don't hesitate to share your thoughts and opinions!
That's a wrap for today!
Stay thirsty & see ya next Sunday🥰
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And you thought I had no talent. A one hit wonder.
the tenses explanation is very good and a useful reminder as I sit my writing part in May of Nat. 5. Merci