When do you use the imperfect tense rather than le passé composé?

The imperfect tense is used when describing actions in the past that are not completed whereas the perfect tense describes completed actions in the past.The imperfect tense is also used to describe emotions in the past, for example how someone felt in that moment.

EJ
Answered by Emily J. French tutor

2138 Views

See similar French GCSE tutors

Related French GCSE answers

All answers ▸

How do I know when to use imperfect or perfect tense in French?


What is the difference between the imperfect and the perfect tense?


Quels sont les avantages et les inconvénients d'internet?


How do you know if a noun is feminine and needs la' before it or if a noun is masculine and needs 'le'?


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