ok, when would you use the passe compose of etre in fench, wouldn't you always have to use the imperfect because the imperfect of etre describes a condition or a state and means "was?" how do you distinguish between when to use each tense when dealing with etre?
2006-11-01 11:00:54 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
imparfait implies a continuous, ongoing action
passe compose is generally a one time thing
compare:
"quand je regardais la television, ma soeur est tombee devant de moi."
2006-11-01 11:37:01 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
JewishGirl hit it dead on. The imperfect is less "past" than the perfect. Implies repeated, ongoing - may even start up again tomorrow. The perfect was a one-shot deal. Over and done.
2006-11-01 20:16:15 · answer #2 · answered by dollhaus 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
never learned so much french. sorry ! no idea:P
2006-11-01 19:05:53 · answer #3 · answered by cinnamon 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋