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B1Grammar cheat sheet
Passé composé vs imparfait
High-priority B1 grammar concept for TEF/TCF preparation: Passé composé vs imparfait.
Quick rule
Passé composé reports completed events; imparfait gives background, habits, descriptions, or ongoing situations.
Patterns to memorize
- completed event: sujet + avoir/être + participe passé
- background/habit: sujet + radical nous-present + -ais/-ait/-ions
- exam clue: soudain, puis, hier = often passé composé; avant, souvent, quand j'étais = often imparfait
Where to use it
- Narrating past events in writing
- Choosing the correct past tense in MCQ/fill blanks
- Explaining background before a main event
High-value examples
Je regardais la télévision quand il a téléphoné.
I was watching TV when he called.
Imparfait for background; passé composé for the event.
Avant, je prenais le bus tous les jours.
Before, I used to take the bus every day.
Habit in the past.
Common mistakes
- Using passé composé for every past sentence
- Forgetting être agreement with movement/reflexive verbs
- Using imparfait for one completed action
Mini drill
- Write 2 background sentences with imparfait.
- Add 2 completed events with passé composé.
- Combine them with quand or pendant que.
Exam target
Use Passé composé vs imparfait in level-appropriate sentences.Recognize common errors and produce a corrected version.Apply the form in short exam-style writing.