Confusion between the Past Compound and the Past Perfect: How to use them correctly?

Learning French can be complex, especially when it comes to essential concepts such as the use of the passé composé and theimparfait. These two verb tenses are often confused, but each has a very specific use. In this article, we give you the keys to understanding the difference and using them correctly.

When to use the passé composé?

The passé composé is used to express a single, completed action that took place in the past. It is often used to recount a specific fact or series of events.

🟢 Examples:

• Yesterday, I met a friend in town.
• She finished her exam at 3pm.
• We traveled to Spain last summer.

When to use the imperfect tense?

Theimperfect tense is used to express a habitual action, a description or an action in progress in the past.

🔵 Examples:

• When I was a kid, I played soccer every day.
• The weather was fine this morning.
• We were having dinner when he arrived.

Past perfect or imperfect? Tips to avoid mistakes!

👉 Ask yourself: is this a one-off action or a description/habit? 👉 The passé composé marks a break in the story, while the imparfait sets the scene. 👉Temporal markers can help: one day, yesterday, suddenly (passé composé) vs. formerly, often, always (imparfait).

Learn how to use them with Too French!

On our French platform, we offer interactive lessons, practical exercises and personalized support to help you master these concepts. Thanks to our adapted formulas (AUTONOMY / TUTORING / PRIVATE COURSES), you can progress at your own pace and according to your needs. 🎯

💡 Join Too French today and improve your command of French!