Passé Composé vs. Imparfait: Mastering the French Past Tenses

Bonjour!

If you’re preparing for the DELF exam, you’ve likely asked yourself: Should I use passé composé or imparfait? Both tenses describe the past, but they serve different purposes. One expresses completed actions, while the other sets the scene or describes ongoing states. Choosing the right tense is essential, not just for grammar accuracy, but for conveying meaning clearly and naturally. 

In this article, we’ll explore the differences between passé composé and imparfait, show you when to use each, and give you practical tips to boost your confidence in both conversation and exams.

Here's a breakdown of the key differences between passé composé and imparfait :

 1. Usage

Passé Composé

Describes completed actions.
‍Describes ongoing or habitual actions
‍Tells what happened

Imparfait

Tells what was happening or the setting
‍Moves the story forward
‍Provides background details

2. Time Focus

  • Passé composé: Focus on when and how many times something happened.
    • Ex: Hier, j’ai vu un film. (Yesterday, I saw a movie.)
  • Imparfait: Focus on how things were or what was happening over time.
    • Ex: Quand j'étais petit, je regardais souvent des dessins animés.
      (When I was little, I used to watch cartoons often.)

3. Clues in the sentence

Passé Composé:

  • soudain (suddenly)
  • tout à coup (all of a sudden)
  • une fois, deux fois (once, twice)
  • hier (yesterday)
  • ce matin (this morning)

Imparfait:

  • toujours (always)
  • souvent (often)
  • d'habitude (usually)
  • tous les jours (every day)
  • pendant que (while)

4. Examples Side by Side

Example 1:

  • Il neigeait quand je suis sorti.
    (It was snowing when I went out.)
    → “Neigeait” is imparfait (background), “suis sorti” is passé composé (main action).

Example 2:

  • Quand j'étais jeune, je jouais au foot tous les dimanches.
    (When I was young, I used to play soccer every Sunday.)
    → Habitual = imparfait.

Example 3:

  • J’ai mangé une pizza hier soir.
    (I ate a pizza last night.)
    → Completed action = passé composé.

Mixing passé composé and imparfait is the secret sauce to telling a good story in French. 

Here’s a simple approach, then we’ll build a mini story together.

Step-by-Step: How to Use Both in a Story

  1. Set the scene – use imparfait for:
    • weather
    • time
    • people’s appearance
    • emotions
    • what was happening regularly or in the background
  2. Describe main actions or events – use passé composé for:
    • things that happened suddenly
    • actions that moved the story forward
    • something that interrupted what was going on

Mini Story Example

“C’était un samedi soir. Il faisait froid et il pleuvait un peu.
Je regardais un film dans mon salon quand mon téléphone a sonné.
C'était mon ami Marc. Il avait oublié ses clés et il était coincé dehors.
Alors, je me suis levé, j’ai mis une veste, et je suis allé l’aider.
Quand je suis arrivé, il m'attendait devant la porte avec son chien.”

It was a Saturday evening. It was cold and raining a little.
I was watching a movie in my living room when my phone rang.
It was my friend Marc. He had forgotten his keys and was stuck outside.
So, I got up, put on a jacket, and went to help him.
When I arrived, he was waiting for me in front of the door with his dog.

Tips for Telling Your Own Story

  • Start with: C’était une journée normale... or Quand j'étais petit...
  • Describe the setting and people using imparfait
  • Insert key events or surprises with passé composé
  • Use verbs like était, avait, faisait, regardait for background
  • Use verbs like est arrivé, a dit, j’ai vu for action

Want to try writing your own little story and our French tutor can help revise it.

Here’s how Passé Composé and Imparfait are used in real life:

 Everyday conversation

  • Talking about your day or weekend:
    • J’ai vu un bon film hier. (I saw a good movie yesterday.)
    • Quand j’étais enfant, je détestais les légumes. (When I was a kid, I hated vegetables.)

Storytelling / Anecdotes

  • Used together all the time:
    • Il faisait nuit, et tout à coup, quelqu’un a frappé à la porte.
      (It was dark, and suddenly, someone knocked at the door.)

Books & Writing

  • Imparfait is great for descriptions, background
  • Passé composé (or passé simple in literary texts) is for actions/events

Passé comes and Imparfait are both absolutely essential in French. If you're aiming to be fluent or even just conversational, mastering them will make a huge difference.

You’ll need to know passé composé and imparfait for the DELF A2 and higher, but especially for DELF B1 and beyond.

Here’s a breakdown by level:

DELF A1 (Beginner)

  • Focuses on basic vocabulary and present tense.
  • You might see passé composé, but you’re not really expected to use it well yet.

DELF A2 (Elementary)

  • You’re expected to use passé composé in simple sentences.
    • J’ai visité Paris. / Nous avons mangé au restaurant.
  • Imparfait might appear in listening or reading, but you don’t need to produce it much.

DELF B1 (Intermediate)

  • Both passé composé and imparfait are required.
  • You need to:
    • Describe past events
    • Tell stories
    • Talk about your experiences
  • Example task: Racontez un souvenir d’enfance.
    → You’ll need imparfait for background + passé composé for events.

DELF B2 (Upper Intermediate)

  • Use of more nuanced past tenses is expected.
  • You should show clear control over when to use imparfait vs. passé composé, maybe even plus-que-parfait sometimes.

Do you want help practicing for a B1 style prompt using both tenses? Our French tutor can give you one and help you write it out.

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