When do you use the compound past or the imperfect tense in French?

The compound past is used for actions that are completed and have no further relevance at present. For example, "J’ai fini mes devoirs."  

On the other hand, the imperfect tense is used for ongoing actions in the past without an ending, or something that you used to do regularly. For example, "Je faisais mes devoirs."

LB
Answered by Louise B. French tutor

1860 Views

See similar French GCSE tutors

Related French GCSE answers

All answers ▸

How can I learn new vocabulary more easily?


What is the difference between the perfect and imperfect tense?


How can I talk about probability in the future in French?


When to use passé composé or imparfait?


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