perfect (done and behaved) vs. imperfect (done with a chance of mishbehavior)
TRANSCRIPT
PERFECT (Done and behaved)
Vs.
IMPERFECT (Done with a chance of mishbehavior)
When to use Passé Composé and when to
use Imparfait
If you are describing an ongoing action without a completion point, use IMPARFAIT.Je prenais des photos à Paris.
If what you are describing started and ended in the past, use PASSÉ COMPOSÉ.J’ai parlé à M. Stevens après la classe.
What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.What happened (and is done) in the past,
stays in the past.
Incomplete/Complete
Repeated actions without a specific number of times require the IMPARFAIT.On allait souvent au Luxembourg .
A single event or an event that occured a set number of times.On est allé au Luxembourg deux fois
l’année dernière.
Habitual/Occasional
If a feeling occured in the past and still occurs to this date, use the IMPARFAIT.Ex. J’étais content(e) d’avoir compris
l’imparfait.
If a feeling occured in the past as a result of a specific action, use the PASSÉ COMPOSÉ.Nous avons eu peur quand le serpent est
arrivé.
Ongoing/New
Does the verb have a « se » in front of it?Is it a DR MRS VANDERTRAMP
Devenir, revenir, mourir, rester, sortir, venir, aller, naître, descendre, entrer, rentrer, tomber, retourner, aller, monter, partir.
If you answered yes to either of these two questions, use ÊTRE.
If you answered no to either question, use AVOIR.
AVOIR or ÊTRE
When you conjugate with ÊTRE. VANDERTRAMPS | REFLEXIVE.
If you are a girl, add an « e » If you are a group of guys, add an « s » If you are a group of girls, add an « es » _____________________________________YOU JUST HAVE TO MEMORIZE THE
VANDERTRAMPS.
To agree, or not agree—that’s the question!
ANY VERB WITH A « SE » IN FRONT OF IT.Se laver, se lever, se brosser, se maquiller
…
Je me (THINK I ME) Nous nousTu te Vous vousIl/elle se Ils/elles se
Think of (mon, ton, son, notre et votre).
How to recognize a reflexive verb?
Boire bu Pouvoir pu Savoir suVoir vu
Connaître connu Pleuvoir plu Vouloir voulu
Ecrire écritFaire fait Avoir eu Etre été Mettre misPrendre pris Offrir offert
Irregulars