Do you use auxiliary words with the Imparfait?

Question

An other french question. I am studying for my french final, and I know for the passe compose you use etre or avior --- with the imparfait do you even use an auxiliary word?

Also, any good tips on figuring out where/when to use
the passe compose, imparfait or the plus-que-parfait

Answer 1

No, no auxiliary words for imparfait.

Plus-que-parfait is the past before the past.

Generally use passé composé rather than imparfait unless in English you'd say "used to" or "was -ing", or with être and avoir. (They can take passé composé but when in doubt, they're usually imparfait.)

Answer 2

The passé composé is used in French in answer to the question 'What happened?' On the other hand, you will usually put a verb in the imparfait if it answers the question 'What was going on when something else happened?' Generally, the passé composé is used to relate events while the imparfait is used to describe what was going on in the past, states of being in the past, or past habits.