Using Past Tenses in French (utilisation des temps du passé en français)
French has several past tenses, each used in different contexts. The main past tenses you'll encounter are the passé composé, imparfait, plus-que-parfait, and passé simple.
Let's see when and how to use each tense, with examples and practice exercises.
1. Le Passé Composé
The passé composé is used for actions that are completed in the recent past. It's similar to the English simple past or present perfect.
It's formed with Avoir or être at the present tense + past participle of the main verb.
Examples:
J'ai mangé une pomme. (I ate an apple.)
Elle est allée au cinéma hier. (She went to the cinema.)
You try (click for the answers):
2. L'imparfait
The imparfait is used for ongoing or repeated actions in the past, for descriptions, and for background information. It's similar to the English past continuous.
It's formed by dropping the "-ons" ending from the nous form of the present tense and adding the imparfait endings: -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient.
Examples:
Quand j'étais petit, je jouais au football. (When I was little, I used to play soccer.)
Il faisait beau ce jour-là. (It was a beautiful day that day.)
You try (click for the answers):
Passé Composé vs. Imparfait
Deciding between the passé composé and the imparfait can be tricky. Use the passé composé for specific, completed actions and the imparfait for ongoing, habitual actions or descriptions.
Examples:
Je faisais mes devoirs quand tu as téléphoné. (I was doing my homework when you called.)
Elle dormait quand je suis arrivé. (She was sleeping when I arrived.)
You try (click for the answers):
3. Le Plus-Que-Parfait
The plus-que-parfait is used to describe actions that were completed before another past action. It's similar to the English past perfect.
It's formed with the Imparfait of avoir or être + past participle of the main verb.
Examples:
- J'avais déjà mangé quand il est arrivé. (I had already eaten when he arrived.)
- Elle était partie avant que je n'arrive. (She had left before I arrived.)
You try (click for the answers):
4. Le Passé Simple
The passé simple is mostly used in written French, especially in literature. It replaces the passé composé in formal writing.
Examples:
Il partit soudainement. (He left suddenly.)
Nous mangeâmes à 8 heures. (We ate at 8 o'clock.)
You try (click for the answers):
Practice Exercises
Fill in the blanks with the correct past tense:
Translate the sentences using the correct past tense: