Pour décrire les circonstances (où ? quand ?

comment ?), on utilise l’imparfait.

uses
The imperfect tense (l'imparfait), one of several past tenses in French, is
used to describe states of being and habitual actions in the past. It also
has several idiomatic uses. The imperfect is used to describe background
activities, which in the time frame of the story haven't been completed
and are ongoing.

The French imperfect (imparfait) is a descriptive past tense which

indicates an ongoing state of being or a repeated or incomplete action.
The beginning and end of the state of being or action are not indicated,
and the imperfect is very often translated in English as "was" or "was
___-ing."

There is no easily understood start or finish to this action, demanding the

use of the imperfect.

Je passais mes vacances chez mes grands parents.

I would spend my holidays at my grandparents’ home.

In this example, we understand that someone routinely spent their

holidays with their grandparents.

Je parlais avec mon père quand ma mère est rentrée.

I was speaking with my father when my mother came home.

Imperfect explains what was happening when another event took place.

Note:

Remember that you NEVER use the verb être to translate was or
were in forms like was raining or were looking and so on. You change
the French verb ending instead.

actions taking place over a period of time

If a certain action covers a significant period of time, we’ll use the

imparfait because it’s a continuous action. This contrasts with the passé
composé, describes a single, completed action.
Robespierre était la tête de la Régime de Terreur.
Robespierre was the head of the Reign of Terror.

We use the imparfait form of être because the Reign of Terror,

unfortunately, lasted almost a year (September 1793 to July 1794) and
claimed many lives.

While we’re exploring French history, let’s look at another example:

Quand les nazis occupaient la France, le marché noir était

répandu.
When the Nazis occupied France, the black market was prevalent.

Here, we use the imparfait for both of the verbs because both of these
events took place over a period of time. The Nazis occupied France for
four years (1940 to 1944) and the black market flourished throughout
this period.

Elles étudiaient a l’université pendant quatre ans.

They studied at the university for four years.

conditions/descriptions (time, date, weather, age, feelings,

health)

We use the imparfait to describe conditions, or the backdrop to the main

action. This is one reason why the imparfait and passé composé are often
used in the same passage or phrase—the imparfait sets up the main
action by giving background, while the passé composé is used for the
primary, completed action.

Il neigeait (weather) beaucoup hier soir.

It snowed a lot last night.

Il pleuvait (weather) mais j’avais un parapluie.

It was raining but I had an umbrella.

Il faisait beau (weather) ce jour-là.

It was nice out that day.

Il était midi (time) et il faisait beau (weather).

It was noon and the weather was nice.

Il était minuit (time).

It was midnight.

Il était dix heures du matin.

It was ten o’clock in the morning.

Il était lundi (date) quand ...

It was Monday when ...

Quand j’avais 6 ans (age), j’étais souvent malade (health) et je

craignais les chiens (feeling).
When I was 6 years old, I was often sick and I was afraid of dogs.

Quand elle était petite, elle avait peur du noir (feeling).

When she was little, she was afraid of the dark.

Quand j’étais petite (state of being), ma maison était verte. J’avais

peur des monstres sous mon lit (feeling).
When I was young, my house was green. I was scared of the monsters
under my bed.

Quand elle avait huit ans (age), elle visitait sa grand-mère tous
les week-ends (repeated action).
When she was eight years old, she visited her grandmother every
weekend.

We use the imparfait because the fact that she was eight years old is a
condition that sets up the rest of the sentence. We put visiter in the
imparfait because it’s a habitual/repeated action. She visited her
grandmother, not just once, but on a regular basis.

Quand il avait 5 ans (age), il avait toujours faim (feeling).

When he was 5, he was always hungry.

J’avais très faim hier soir.

I was very hungry yesterday night.

physical descriptions (hair color/style, height, clothing)

This one’s also rather simple. Whether it’s hair color, height or clothing,
we use the imparfait when we describe how a person or thing was.

Elle avait les cheveux bouclés (hair style).

She had curly hair.
Hair is obviously a physical trait, so we use the imparfait.

Vous portiez une robe rouge (clothing).

You wore a red dress.

Similarly, clothing falls under physical description.

L'homme était grand (height).

The man was tall.

states of being (the overall physical condition of a person, as

opposed to mental condition (state of mind))

The imparfait is used to describe people, places, conditions or situations

in the past. Some verbs occur more frequently in the imparfait when they
are in the past since they typically describe states of being: être, avoir,
vouloir, pouvoir. But these verbs do sometimes occur in the passé
composé.

states of being & descriptions

good, quiet, difficult, tired, upset, happy, strange, excited, angry, better,
older, bored

location – Jean habitait Paris.

age – Elle avait 6 ans.
appearance – Sophie était belle.
physical condition – Nous étions fatigués.
emotional state of being – Il était triste.
attitudes – Tu avais envie de dormir.
desires – Il voulait rentrer chez lui.
time – il était dix heures du soir.
weather – il pleuvait

verbs that describe mental or emotional states of being in the past often
use l’imparfait

aimer
avoir envie de
vouloir
croire
penser
désirer
préférer
savoir
pouvoir
Je m’ennuyais souvent (state of being).
I was often bored.

J'étais fatigué (state of being).

I was tired.

Nous étions heureux (state of being).

We were happy.

Il semblait très heureux!

He looked very happy!

Il n’était pas content (state of being) du résultat.

He wasn’t happy with the results.

Elle avait très honte!

She was very ashamed!

La porte de la maison était pourpre.

The door of the house was purple.

Eloise était une fille intelligente.

Eloise was an intelligent girl.

J’étais une fille têtue.

I was a stubborn girl.

Quand j’étais jeune, j’étais souvent timide.

When I was young, I was often shy.

Quand j’étais petit, j’aimais danser.

When I was little, I liked to dance.

La voiture faisait du bruit.

The car was making noise.

duration

Quand j'étais petit (duration, time), nous allions à la plage chaque

semaine (repeated action).
When I was young, we used to go to the beach every week.
Il jouait (habitual action) au football quand il était petit (duration,
time).
He played football when he was small.

Quand Paul était adolescent (duration, time), il n'avait qu'un rêve –

devenir un grand cuisinier. Il voulait créer des chefs-d'oeuvre
culinaires. Il adorait la cuisine française.
When Paul was a teenager, he had only one dream – to become a great
chef. He wanted to create culinary masterpieces. He loved French
cooking.

Quand j’étais petite (duration, time), ma maison était verte. J’avais

peur des monstres sous mon lit (feeling).
When I was young, my house was green. I was scared of the monsters
under my bed.

Quand j'étais jeune (duration, time), j'habitais à Montréal.

When I was young, I used to live in Montreal.

Quand j’étais plus jeune (duration, time), nous allions souvent à la

mer.
When I was younger we often went to the coast.

habitual (habits)/repeated actions in the past

used to, would

This might be the most common use of the imparfait. When we’re
describing a routine we used to practice, a habit we used to have or
anything else that was repeated, we’ll use the imparfait.

The imparfait is also used to state habitual actions in the past. These past
habits are often translated as 'used to, or 'would.' Distinguish between
the use of 'would' for habitual past actions (imparfait) and the use of
'would' for the conditional. Note that the imparfait may also be translated
by the simple past in English; however, the context, and often adverbs,
let you know the action is a past habit.

When we wish to express the idea of “used to” in French, the idea that
you did something habitually over a period of time, you use the imperfect
tense:
To express an action that happened often in the past, such as a habit that
one has grown out of.

Quand j’étais jeune, je jouais souvent au foot (habitual action).

When I was young, I often played football.
When I was young, I often used to play football.

In this sentence, we can clearly see that we are talking about a period of
time (“when I was young”). And that we are talking about something that
happened habitually. The addition of the word “often” reinforces this idea.

Je mangeais un kiwi en regardant les informations (habitual

action).
I used to eat a kiwi while watching the news.

Il jouait au football quand il était petit (habitual action).

He played football when he was small.

Quand ils habitaient en France, ils visitaient le parc tous les

samedis (habitual action).
When they lived in France, they visited the park every Saturday.

Since they lived in France over a period of time, habiter is in the

imparfait, and since the action of going to the park was part of a routine,
visiter must also be put in the imparfait.

Pendant l’été, tu allais à la plage tous les week-ends (habitual

action).
During summer, you went to the beach every weekend.

Because you went to the beach every weekend (living the dream!) we use
the imparfait.

Quand il faisait chaud, on allait toujours à la piscine, on se

promenait (habitual action).
When the weather was hot, we always used to go to the pool, we would
take walks.

Je lisais tous les jours (habitual action).

I used to read every day.

Tu étudiais chaque jour (habitual action).

You used to study each day.

J’allais au restaurant tous les dimanches (repeated action).

I went to the restaurant every Sunday.

Je nagais tous les deux jours.

I swam every two days.
J’allais au parc le dimache soir.
I went to the park on Sunday evenings.

Nous étudions à la bibliothèque chaque week-end.

We used to study at the library each weekend.

Quand il était petit, Michel jouait dehors.

When he was a child, Michael played/used to play outside.

Tous les étés, nous allions dans le sud de la France.

Every summer, we would go to the South of France.

Quand j'étais petit, nous allions à la plage chaque semaine

(habitual action).
When I was young, we used to go to the beach every week.

L'année dernière , je travaillais (habitual action) avec mon père.

I worked with my father last year.

L’année dernière, nous allions (habitual action) au ciné chaque

vendredi.
Last year, we went (we would go) to the movies every Friday.

Note that one of the uses of L'Imparfait is to express actions that

repeated in the past, or past habits (e.g. I would go every summer, I
used to play, ...).

Note that in English you can use used to or would, but you can also use
the Simple Past (i.e. I played) to express habits and repeated actions.

actions or states of being of an unspecified duration (no

specific beginning or end)

Je faisais la queue parce que j'avais besoin de billets.

I stood in line because I needed tickets.

Je regardais la télé pendant le petit déjeuner.

I watched/was watching TV during breakfast.

Il espérait te voir avant ton départ.

He was hoping to see you before you left.
Nous avions besoin de tomates.
We needed tomatoes.

two things that were happening at the same time

Il travaillait et j’étudiais.
He was working, and I was studying.

Je lisait pendant que mon frère jouait du tennis.

I read while my brother played tennis.

continuing action

J'allais au marché...
I was going to the market...

Tu parlais de Jean, ce matin.

You were talking this morning about John.

J’allais au parc parce que je voulais me promener.

I was going to the park because I wanted to take a walk.

Elle courait quand le bus est arrivé.

She was running when the bus arrived.

Nous pensions aller à la plage.

We were thinking of going to the beach.

Vous étiez là ce matin.

You (pl) were there this morning.

Note that L'Imparfait is also the tense to express continuing actions in

the past, or actions seen in their progression, with no clear beginning or
end.

This usage is similar to the Past Continuous (or Past Progressive) in

English (i.e. I was doing, he was sleeping).

opinions

C'était (meaning it was) + an adjective can be used to give your

opinion on something:
C'était super !
It was great!

C'était fantastique !
It was great!

C'était difficile !
It was difficult!

NOTE: When the verb être is used in a past context, it is usually in

L'Imparfait and NOT Le Passé Composé, as it often appears in a
descriptive context or to express an opinion.

background information & actions or states of being that

got interrupted (imparfait + passé composé)

Note that the interruption is expressed with the passé composé.

Le garçon courait quand il est tombé.

The boy was running when he fell over.

Je suis tombée quand je courais.

I fell when I was running.

Le conducteur conduisait quand il a perdu le contrôle du

véhicule.
The driver was driving when he lost control of the vehicle.

Travaillais-tu quand je t’ai téléphoné ?

Were you working when I called you?

J’avais faim, donc j’ai acheté un sandwich.

I was hungry, so I bought a sandwich.

L’écrivain tapait sur son ordinateur quand l’ordinateur s’est

bloqué et il a perdu tout son travail.
The writer was typing when the computer crashed and he lost all his
work.

In all of these examples, something was happening when something else

happened. For the first verb in the sentence, French uses the imperfect;
for the second, it uses the perfect.
Elle travaillait quand son père a téléphoné.
She was working when her dad called.

Il faisait ses devoirs quand son ami est arrivé.

He was doing his homework when his friend arrived.

Nous parlions quand quelqu’un a frappé à la porte.

We were talking when somebody knocked on the door.

Pendant qu’elle faisait ses devoirs, son ami a appellé.

While she was doing her homework, her friend called on the telephone.

Pendant que je finissais mon masters en France, Michael

Jackson est mort.
While I was finishing my masters’ degree in France, Michael Jackson died.

Il était à la banque quand il l'a trouvé.

He was at the bank when he found it.

Je regardais la télévision quand un singe est apparu dans ma

chambre.
I was watching the TV when a monkey appeared in my room.

Je mangeais quand tu as téléphoné.

I was eating when you called.

J’étais au bureau quand j’ai appris la nouvelle.

I was at the office when I heard the news.

J'étais au marché et j'ai acheté des pommes.

I was at the market and I bought some apples.

French imperfect after ‘si’

idiomatic uses

questions

Elle m’a demandé si j’étais marié.

She asked if I was married.
I know this sounds like it’s in the past, but at the time, it wasn’t. She
wanted to know if I was married in the present tense of her asking.

suggestions

The imparfait is used to suggest an action in phrases beginning with Si

on ... ? (How about ...? / What about ...? / How about we …?)

Si on allait au ciné demain ?

How about going to the movies tomorrow?

Si nous allions au cinéma ?

How about going to the cinema?
How about we go to the cinema?

Si nous sortions ce soir ?

How about going out tonight?
How about we go out tonight?

Si on achetait une Harley Davidson?

How about buying a Harley Davidson?
How about we buy a Harley Davidson?
What if we bought a Harley Davidson?
What about buying a Harley Davidson?

wishes (pour exprimer des souhaits)

The imparfait is used to express wishes such as 'If only we didn't have a
test this week!' The French equivalent structure, si + imparfait, (may, or
may not, contain the adverb seulement): The imparfait is used to express
wishes in phrases beginning with Si seulement ... ! (if only)

Si seulement je gagnais au loto !

If only I won the lottery!

Si seulement j'avais une voiture !

If only I had a car !

Si seulement j’avais beaucoup d’argent !

If only I had a lot of money!

Si (seulement) on avait plus d'argent !

If (only) we had more money!
Si (seulement) mes parents nous prêtaient de l'argent !
If only my parents would lend us some money!

Ah ! Si j'étais riche !
Oh, if only I were rich!

Note that the question mark at the end of the sentence indicates a
suggestion, and the exclamation mark a wish. In spoken French,
however, you have to rely on context and intonation to distinguish
between wish and suggestion.

Si je me faisais tatouer ?
What if I got tattooed?

Si seulement je pouvais avoir une moto!

If only I could have a motorcycle!

comme si

Tu parles comme si tu pouvais prédire l’avenir.

You speak as though you can see the future.

‘si’ clauses (conditions, with the conditional)

In imperfect + conditional si clauses, you are expressing something that

would happen if something else happened. It usually expresses things
that are unlikely.

Si j'avais de l'argent, j'irais avec toi.

If I had some money, I would go with you.

Si tu avais un emploi, tu pourrais acheter une voiture.

If you had a job, you could buy a car.

S'il voulait venir, il trouverait le moyen.

If he wanted to come, he would find a way.

Si j’avais un milliard d’euros, j’achèterais deux maisons.

If I had a million euros, I would buy two houses.

Nous serions amis si tu étais plus gentil.

We would be friends if you were nicer.
S'il faisait beau, nous irions nous promener.
If (it/the weather) was nice, we would go on a walk.

Si j'avais un enfant, je lui apprendrais l'Italien.

If I had a child, I would teach him Italian.

aller

J’allais te téléphoner.
I was going to call you.

vouloir

When vouloir is used to indicate a past state of mind, such as “wanted to

write,” the imparfait is the appropriate choice in French. The passé
composé is used when you wish to show that the actual act of wanting
occurred at a specific point in time, as in “I wanted to write this morning”
versus a general state of mind.

Je voulais vous poser une question.

I wanted to ask you a question.

pouvoir

When used in the imparfait, pouvoir is much like saying “could have.” In
the imparfait, it tends to indicate that it was a possible state of events,
but no attempt was ever actually made to achieve the objective. Using
pouvoir in the passé composé indicates that an attempt was actually
made, because it can be tied to a specific point in time.

venir de

Also, using venir de in the past takes the imperfect. This phrase is
essentially the equivalent of “just had.”

When venir de is used in the present, it conveys the sense of having just
done something. It is used in the imparfait to convey the sense of “had
just done something.” This usage is rather idiomatic, so remember to
choose the imparfait to avoid confusion.

Je venais de rentrer quand tu as appelé.

I had just gotten home when you called.
Il venait d'arriver.
He had just arrived.

être en train de

If you use the phrase “être en train de“ (to be in the middle of) and are
talking about the past, then you would use the imperfect tense:

J’étais en train de sortir.

I was (in the middle of) leaving.

J'étais en train de faire la vaisselle.

I was (in the process of) doing the dishes.

devoir
was supposed to (do)

Il devait me rappeler, mais il a oublié !

He was supposed to call me back, but he forgot!

Ils devaient venir ce soir, mais ils ont annulé à la dernière

minute.
They were supposed to come tonight, but they cancelled at the last
minute.

Nous devions nous rejoindre à 17h. Qu'est-ce qui s'est passé ?

We were supposed to meet at 5pm. What happened ?

When conjugated in Imparfait, devoir refers to a past obligation, without

specifying whether it was met or not.

Actually, in most cases, the obligation was not met.

___________________________________________________________
__________

Passé composé vs. Imparfait

Passé Composé Imparfait

corresponds to the English simple corresponds to the English past
past, present perfect progressive or the structures used to
and would
 Complete vs. Incomplete
complete actions incomplete actions
Passé composé announces what Imparfait explains what was happening,
happened, actions that were with no indication of when or even if it
completed. ended.

Je suis arrivé tôt. J’étais à l’école.

I arrived early. I was at school.

J’ai fini mes devoirs. Je faisais mes devoirs.

I finished my homework. I was doing my homework.

Je suis sorti. Il parlait vite.

I went out. He was speaking fast.

Counted vs. Uncounted

Passé composé expresses what Imparfait details what used to happen on
happened a specific/definite a regular basis, or happened an
number of times. unspecific/indefinite number of times.

J’ai étudié lundi. J’étudiais le lundi.

I studied on (a specific) Monday. I used to study on Mondays.

J’ai perdu mon livre deux fois. Je perdais constamment mon livre.
I lost my book twice. I was always losing my book.

New vs. Ongoing

Passé composé reports a change in Imparfait indicates an ongoing state of
a state of being, a new feeling. being, feeling or action.

À ce moment, j’ai détesté J’aimais l’école.

l’école. I liked school.
At that moment, I hated school.

J’ai été inspiré par ton succès. J’étais toujours inspiré par mes
I was (became) inspired by your profs.
success. I was always inspired by my teachers.

Je dormais souvent. (ongoing action)

I slept often.

Event + Background
… the passé composé interrupted Imparfait describes what was happening
with news of some occurence. or how something was when …

… il a commencé à pleuvoir. J’étais à l’école quand …

… it started raining. I was at school when …

… mon ami m’a posé une J’essayais d’étudier mais …

question. I was trying to study but …
… my friend asked me a question.

Definite (Specific) vs. Indefinite (undetermined) length of

time
De 1997 à 1998, Avant,
Pendant un an, Quand il était enfant,
Entre dix-huit et dix-neuf ans, A cette époque-là,

Paul a été vendeur de T- Paul était dans un couvent de

shirts. Lyon.
Elle est arrivée hier.
She arrived yesterday.

Passé composé & imparfait clues

une semaine one week chaque semaine each/every week
un mois one month chaque mois each/every month

un an one year chaque année each/every year

un week-end one weekend le week-end on the weekends

lundi on Monday le lundi on Mondays

lundi on Monday tous les lundis Every Mondays

mardi on Tuesday le mardi on Tuesdays

un jour one day tous les jours every day

un jour one day chaque jour each day

un matin one morning tous les matins every morning

un matin one morning chaque matin each morning

un matin one morning le matin in the mornings, in

the morning

un soir one evening le soir in the evenings, in

the evening

un soir one evening tous les soirs every evening

toujours always (and toujours always (in the past)

 still now)

plusieurs fois several times d’habitude usually

habituellement habitually

une fois once en général, in general, generally

généralement
deux fois twice normalement normally, usually

soudain, suddenly souvent often

soudainement
tout à coup, all of a sudden, parfois, sometimes
tout d’un coup suddenly, all at quelquefois
once

tout de suite, right away, de temps en from time to time

immédiatemen immediately temps
t
d’abord first, first of all rarement rarely, seldom

ensuite, puis next, then autrefois once, at one time,

once upon a time, in
days gone by, in
times past, in the
past

enfin finally à l'époque at the time

finalement in the end

Usually, when verbs like être, avoir, pouvoir, vouloir, and savoir are
in a past narration, they will be in the imparfait, since they most likely
describe a past state of being or condition. However, when these verbs
(and others like them) occur in the passé composé, they indicate a change
of state or a change of condition.

Quand j'ai eu 18 ans, j'ai Quand j'avais 15 ans, j'habitais à

déménagé à Berlin. Paris.
When I turned 18, I moved to When I was 15, I used to live in Paris.
Berlin.
But ultimately it is the entire context that determines which of these two past
tenses to use and not a given adverb. For example, in the sentences below,
the same adverb, un jour, is used with the imperfect or the passé composé
according to the context.
Un jour, les autorités Un jour, Tex vendait des T-shirts à
françaises ont expulsé Tex. Paris quand il a été arrêté pour
One day, the French authorities activité illégale.
deported (to evict, especially from a One day, Tex was selling T-shirts in Paris
country) Tex. (Event) when he was arrested for illegal activity.
(The imparfait sets the scene to be interrupted)

L’année dernière, j’ai L’année dernière, je travaillais

travaillé dur tous les jours. dur tous les jours.
Last year, I worked hard every Last year, I worked hard every day.
day.
Both are correct, so what’s the difference?

In this case, the difference has nothing to do the period of time since, for
both, we are talking about “last year”.

As we've seen, the imperfect expresses a habitual action. In contrast, here

the perfect expresses a repeated action.

Here, if the speaker chooses the second example, what they wish to express
is the idea that last year, they worked hard all the time and that it was
considered normal and habitual to work hard every day for the entirety of the
year.

If the speaker chooses the first option using the perfect, the idea is that
every day, they worked hard over and over again.

You cannot translate imparfait or passé composé literally

The problem is “I sang” or verbs in “I was singing” or verbs in past

the perfect tense… they can be progressive are going to be imperfect.
translated as “je chantais” or “j’ai
chanté”: it is the rest of the For those, you can rely on translation
sentence that tells, so there is no 90% of the time.
way you can just translate.
what took place at that very what was happening all around you
moment: a specific event or a (including you), background. Also
succession of specific events, the ongoing events, habits, what used to be.
main storyline.

Habits versus specific events

The passé composé describes what The imperfect describes habitual actions
took place, specific events. in the past

Un lundi, nous avons dîné au Le lundi, je dînais chez ma soeur.

restaurant. On Mondays, I used to have dinner at
One Monday, we dined in a my sister’s.
restaurant.
In this case, what you need to look for are the time setting words: “le lundi”
(habit) versus “un lundi”(specific).

When you are telling a story

The passé composé describes The imperfect describes the background,
actions that constitute the it sets the scene.
storyline. It tells the series of
specific events that took place.
Imagine that you are taking a selfie: the camera zooms on you and show
what you are doing specifically at that very moment, and “ignore” the wider
background.

J’ai pris un selfie et j’ai souri Il faisait gris, des gens regardaient
pour la photo. un type qui dansait. Un autre type
I took a selfie and I smiled for the prenait des photos. Les gens
picture. étaient captivés.
It was a grey day, people were watching
a guy who was dancing. Another guy
took several pictures. People were
captivated (attracted)
Of course, it’s all a question of perspective: were you smiling for your selfie
when suddenly a bike ran into you? Then the smiling part would be the
background…

In the same sentence

The passé composé will describe a The Imparfait describes ongoing
specific action that took place at a background actions, what was
precise time as the background happening at that time (often with a “to
action was going on. be + ing” construction in English) –
these actions had started before, and
may continue after.

Ils sont entrés (specific event – short in length) pendant que nous dormions
(ongoing action – longer in length).
They came in as we were sleeping.

Sometimes, the same tense is used for the 2 actions if they

are of same length
2 specific shorter actions: 2 actions that went on for some time:
Tu es rentrée quand je suis Pendant que j’étudiais, tu
sortie. regardais la télé.
You came in as I was going out. While I was studying, you were watching
TV.

Pour évoquer des événements, la Pour décrire les circonstances (où ?

chronologie des faits passés: quand ? comment ?):
To evoke events, the chronology of To describe the circumstances (where?
the past facts: When? How?):

Nos regards se sont croisés. J’étais dans une boulangerie.

J’ai eu le souffle coupé. J’allais chercher mon frère à l’aéroport.
Je suis sorti du magasin.
J’ai rattrapé Sandrine.

Here Is A Typical Story With The Explanation For The Tenses

C’était le 3 juillet (background). Il faisait beau (background). Les

oiseaux chantaient (background), le soleil brillait (background). J’avais
vingt ans (background) et je me promenais dans Paris (background).
It was July 3 (background). It was beautiful (background). The birds were
singing (background), the sun was shining (background). I was twenty years
old (background) and I was walking around Paris (background).

Généralement (habit so imparfait will follow), je passais mes vacances

avec mes parents. Mais cette année-là (specific time so PC will follow),
je suis allée à Paris avec des amis. Je ne parlais pas très bien
français (background), et j’étais un peu timide (background).
Generally (habit so imperfect will follow), I spent my holidays with my parents.
But that year (specific time so PC will follow), I went to Paris with friends. I
didn't speak French very well (background), and I was a bit shy (background).

Il était midi (background), et j’avais faim (background). Je suis allée

dans un café, et je me suis assise à une table (succession of specific
events/storyline).
It was noon (background), and I was hungry (background). I went to a cafe,
and I sat down at a table (succession of specific events / storyline).

C’était un petit café typiquement parisien (background) : on

entendait un air de musique à la radio (background), quelques
personnes déjeunaient et parlaient tranquillement sur la
terrasse (background).
It was a small typically Parisian cafe (background): we heard an air of music
on the radio (background), a few people were having lunch and talking
quietly on the terrace (background).

Le serveur est venu à ma table, et j’ai passé ma commande

(succession of specific events/storyline). Le serveur est tout de suite
revenu avec mon café (specific event).
The waiter came to my table, and I placed my order (succession of specific
events / storyline). The server immediately returned with my coffee (specific
event).

Pendant que j’attendais mon repas, et que je buvais

tranquillement mon café (ongoing events), j’ai commencé à me
sentir mal (specific event). Soudainement (introduces PC), je me suis
évanouie et je suis tombée par terre (succession of specific events,
storyline).
While I was waiting for my meal, and quietly drinking my coffee (ongoing
events), I started to feel ill (specific event). Suddenly (PC introduces), I fainted
and fell to the ground (succession of specific events, storyline).

Le serveur a téléphoné aux pompiers (specific event, storyline). Ils

sont arrivés très vite (specific event, storyline). Je me suis réveillée
(specific event), mais je me sentais encore faible (ongoing).
The server called the fire department (specific event, storyline). They arrived
very quickly (specific event, storyline). I woke up (specific event), but I still felt
weak (ongoing).

Alors, les pompiers ont décidé (specific event/storyline) de

m’emmener à l’hôpital où les médecins ont fait des tests (specific
event). Je suis sortie de l’hôpital le soir (specific event) et après cette
aventure, mon séjour à Paris s’est passé sans problème (specific
event).
So the firefighters decided (specific event / storyline) to take me to the
hospital where the doctors did the tests (specific event). I left the hospital in
the evening (specific event) and after this adventure, my stay in Paris went
smoothly (specific event).

Histoire à l’imparfait

Quand j’étais lycéen, j’étudiais tous les jours. Je voulais être

accepté dans une grande école parce que je souhaitais être
politicien. Je lisais les journaux régulièrement et je commentais
constamment l’actualité en compagnie de mes amis.
When I was a high school student, I studied every day. I wanted to be
admitted into a prestigious university because I hoped to be a politician. I
read newspapers regularly and I talked about current events all the time
with my friends.

Histoire au passé composé

Quand j’ai décidé d’être politicien, j’ai commencé à étudier tous

les jours. J’ai fait des recherches et j’ai choisi une grande école.
Cependant, je n’ai lu le journal que trois fois en un an, et, un
soir, quand j’ai parlé de l’actualité pendant un dîner, je me suis
rendu ridicule devant tout le monde.
When I decided to be a politician, I started studying every day. I did
research and chose a prestigious university. However, I only read the
newspaper three times in one year, and, one evening, when I talked
about current events at a dinner party, I made a fool of myself in front of
everyone.

Histoire aux temps passés mélangés

Quand j’étais lycéen, j’ai décidé que je voulais être politicien.

J’étudiais tous les jours parce que je devais, pour cela, être
accepté dans une grande école. Je lisais les journaux
régulièrement, et, un soir, quand j’ai parlé de l’actualité
pendant un dîner, j’ai impressionné tout le monde.
When I was a high school student, I decided that I wanted to be a
politician. I studied every day because for that I needed to be aadmitted
into a prestigious university. I read newspapers regularly and one
evening, when I talked about current events at a dinner party, I
impressed everyone.