what are the two main differences between the formation and use of the perfect tense (passe compose) and the imperfect tense (imparfait)

Firstly; the perfect tense is a compound formation, meaning there are two parts to its formation. This includes the auxiliary verb, namely 'avoir' or 'être' plus the past participle which is the conjugated verb. Eg: J'ai joué le football/ Je suis allé(e) au cinéma.Unlike the imperfect tense where there is a single conjugated verb Eg: je jouais le football/ j’allais au cinema.Secondly; the two tenses are used to convey different types of actions in the past. For instance, the perfect tense depicts a completed action in the past, perhaps a onetime occurrence whereas the imperfect describes a continuous one, something more habitual/ an action that has been repeated over a period of time. 

CH
Answered by Charlotte H. French tutor

2291 Views

See similar French GCSE tutors

Related French GCSE answers

All answers ▸

How is the pronoun 'on' used in French?


What are formal and informal pronoums and how to know which to choose?


What is the passive voice and how is it used in French?


How do I use the imperfect in French?


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:

© 2026 by IXL Learning