Point de départ You have learned the uses of the passé composé versus the imparfait to talk about things and events in the past. These tenses are distinct and are not used in the same way. Remember always to keep the context and the message you wish to convey in mind while deciding which tense to use. © 2015 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. PB.1-1 © 2015 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. PB.1-2 © 2015 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. PB.1-3 The imparfait and the passé composé are sometimes used in the same sentence where the former is used to say what was going on when something else happened. To say what happened that interrupted the ongoing activity, use the passé composé. © 2015 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. PB.1-4 A cause and effect relationship is sometimes expressed by using the passé composé and the imparfait in the same sentence. © 2015 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. PB.1-5 The verb avoir has a different meaning when used in the imparfait versus the passé composé. © 2015 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. PB.1-6 Certain expressions like soudain, tout à coup, autrefois, une fois, d’habitude, souvent, toujours, etc serve as clues to signal a particular past tense. © 2015 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. PB.1-7 Essayez! Choisissez la forme correcte du verbe au passé. mangiez 1. D’habitude, vous __________ 5. Ils __________(vivre) en (manger) dans la salle à manger. France pendant un mois. 2. Quand mes copines étaient petites, elles __________(jouer) de la guitare. 6. Les chats __________ (dormir) toujours sur le tapis. 3. Tout à coup, ma soeur __________ (arriver) à l’école. 7. Je/J’ __________ (louer) un studio en ville pendant trois semaines. 4. Ce matin, Matthieu __________ (repasser) le linge. 8. Vous _________(laver) toujours les rideaux? © 2015 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. PB.1-8