I don't understand when I use the imperfect tense and when i should use the perfect tense!

The imperfect and perfect tenses are the two main past tenses used in french but it can be a bit tricky knowing when to use each one!I find that the easiest way of thinking about it is to think of the imperfect tense as a description or an uncompleted action whereas the perfect tense is used for a specific event or completed action.For example:J'étais à l'école quand il a commencé à pleuvoir. Can you tell me which part of the sentence is the imperfect tense and which part is the perfect tense and why?Another time you would use the imperfect tense is when we would say 'I used to do...' in English.For example, 'I used to swim'. would be translated by 'Je nageais.'

RF
Answered by Ruth F. French tutor

1977 Views

See similar French GCSE tutors

Related French GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Please conjugate the verb Être in the present tense.


Peux-tu me donner du vocabulaire pour évoquer le thème du voyage et du tourisme?


When would you use the preterite versus the imperfect?


In the perfect tense, with verbs ending in -er, how do you know when to write "é/és/ée/ées" at the end of the verb?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning