When learning French, it can be tricky to know when to use passé composé and when to use imparfait. Both of these tenses talk about things that happened in the past, but they do it in different ways. Here are some easy tips to help you decide which one to use.

1. Nature of the Action

• Passé Composé: Use this tense for actions that are finished and happened at a specific time. If you know exactly when it happened, go with passé composé.
  • Example: “J’ai mangé une pomme.” (I ate an apple.)
• Imparfait: Use this tense for actions that were ongoing or repeated in the past. It helps to set the scene instead of focusing on one event.
  • Example: “Je mangeais une pomme chaque jour.” (I used to eat an apple every day.)

2. Duration of the Action

• Passé Composé: Choose this tense for actions that lasted a certain time and are now over.
  • Example: “Il a lu le livre en deux jours.” (He read the book in two days.)
• Imparfait: This is the one to use for situations that were happening over time.
  • Example: “Il lisait le livre quand je suis arrivé.” (He was reading the book when I arrived.)

3. Interruption

When you have two actions and one stops the other:

• Passé Composé: The action that interrupts uses passé composé.
  • Example: “Je regardais la télévision quand le téléphone a sonné.” (I was watching TV when the phone rang.)
• Imparfait: The action that was ongoing uses imparfait.

4. Descriptive Language

If you want to describe the setting, characters, or feelings from the past, use imparfait.

• Example: “Il faisait beau et les oiseaux chantaient.” (It was nice and the birds were singing.)

Summary

By remembering these differences, you can choose between passé composé and imparfait more easily. Think about the nature of the action, how long it lasted, if one action interrupted another, and if you are describing the scene. This will help you pick the right tense when you speak or write in French!