passé composé vs. imparfait

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Passé composé

• The passé composé is used when an action happened only once, when an action was interrupted or sudden, with specific actions, actions that have a beginning and an end, and precise information.
• Use the passé composé with words such as: hier, avant-hier, hier soir, un jour, l’autre jour, la semaine dernière, l’année passée, soudain, tout à coup, mardi, and so on

Example

I played basket ball last Tuesday (that Tuesday).

J’ai fait du basket mardi dernier.

Imparfait

• The imparfait is used when you used to do something, when describing the weather, when telling time, your age, setting a story in place or talking about emotions.
• Use the imparfait with words such as: fréquemment, d’habitude, souvent, bien des fois, parfois, quelquefois, toujours, tous les jours/lundis, en ce tempsl-à, chaque année, le mardi and so on

Example

I played basket ball on Tuesdays (every Tuesday).

Je faisais du basket tous les mardis.

Also Useful:

If you ask the question: What happened? –>  passé composé

If you ask the question: How was it? –> imparfait

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