What is the difference between the present perfect and the imperfect?
Present Perfect
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Finished past action: Il a cuisiné.
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An action which lasted a certain amount of time: Elle a étudié au lycée pendant trois ans.
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An action which has been repeated several times: Il a sonné quatre fois.
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A series of actions: Il a pris la glace, il a payé le vendeur et il est parti.
Imperfect
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Non finished past action: Elle cuisinait.
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An action which is a habit: Il se promenait tous les jours.
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A description set in the past: Le soleil brillait.
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Expresses a state: Elle était petite.
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Two simultaneous actions set in the past: Quand je courais, il sautait.
EM
