Passé Composé & Imparfait
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Passé Composé & Imparfait Storytelling skills Don’t forget: there is homework assigned at the end of this presentation. Some of the instructions may be oral! Storytelling… Take a moment and reflect on how often you use storytelling in your daily life. You tell your parents and friends about what happened at school today. You talk about things that happened, or used to happen, when you were younger. You tell me about your previous French teachers. You make excuses to your teachers about why the homework didn’t get done! You give reports at school about historical events or to summarize books that you have read. Storytelling is a major part of communication, not just something we do around a campfire! For storytelling, two types of past-tense exist in French: Passé composé, used in these contexts: Events on a specific occasion Sequence of events Emotional reaction An event that interrupted something already happening Imparfait (Imperfect) used in these contexts: Setting the scene The concept “used to” General description Emotional description Something already happening when another event interrupted it Something in the past that was ongoing Imparfait Passé composé Conjugation of verbs in imparfait: The only exception to Step 1: Conjugate the verb for “nous” in present tense. Example – regardons Step 2: Remove the “ons” ending. Example - regard This gives you the imparfait stem. this rule is our good friend “être.” The imparfait stem of être is: ét Given that être is the most common verb in the language, it is important to remember this exception. Conjugation of verbs in imparfait, continued: Step 3: add imparfait endings to the stem IMPARFAIT ENDINGS: je: ais nous: ions tu: ais vous: iez il/elle/on: ait ils/elles: aient **in green are endings that sound exactly alike – pronounced “eh” Examples of Imparfait Setting the scene The concept “used to” General description Emotional description Something already happening when another event interrupted it Something in the past that was ongoing Un jour, j’étudiais… Il regardait “Glee.” Paris était beau! Ma mère était très déçue. Marie et Léa avaient 6 ans quand… Nous assistions Summit Ridge M.S. See if you can do it yourself! Note: Just like always, do not conjugate être (in any tense) and follow it with a verb! It was six o’clock and we were eating breakfast… My dad used to have a Corvette. She was tall. I was happy! I was doing dishes when… Every summer my parents went to the Grand Canyon. How did you do? Note: Just like always, do not conjugate être (in any tense) and follow it with a verb! It was six o’clock and we were eating breakfast… My dad used to have a Corvette. J’étais heureux! I was doing dishes when… Elle était grande. I was happy! Mon père avait une Corvette. She was tall. Il était six heures et nous mangions le petit déjeuner… Je faisais la vaisselle quand… Every summer my parents went to the Grand Canyon. Tous les étés, mes parents allaient au Grand Canyon. How about questions and negatives? What were you (formal) doing when…? I didn’t used to want children. Was she pretty? We were not angry, we were disappointed. Were you (plural) playing soccer when…? You (informal) did not finish your homework when you were younger. How Did You Do? What were you (formal) doing when…? I didn’t used to want children. Nous n’étions pas fâchés, nous étions déçus. Were you (plural) playing soccer when… Etait-elle jolie? We were not angry, we were disappointed. Je ne voulais pas d’enfants. Was she pretty? Qu’est-ce que vous faisiez quand…? Est-ce que vous jouiez au football quand… You (informal) did not finish your homework when you were younger. Tu ne finissais pas tes devoirs quand tu étais plus jeune. Let’s talk about context Before you can storytell in French, you have context for passé composé and imparfait “down pat.” That means you have to know when to use each tense (under what circumstances, in what context). If you were going to tell this story in French… …which tense would you use for each underlined word? Passé composé or imparfait? Yesterday, I when I was walking home, a dragon came up to me and he said, “Hello – I believe we have met before.” I said, “I think we used to live next door to each other! You’re Bill – I remember you!” He replied, “Yes! And I can recall, when you were six, your dog died and your dad told you that he went to live on a farm!” I became suddenly very melancholy, and I told the dragon, “That was a sad day. Bill sighed, and said, “My family and I liked your dog. We were sorry that he departed.” “Thanks,” I said, and I patted his arm. We chatted some more, and finally exchanged phone numbers. He called me yesterday and asked if I’d like to go out to dinner. I said yes! Now let’s try it in French, with both tenses! Melanie and I were talking on the phone when my grandfather arrived. I used to think that televisions were evil, but yesterday I bought a Sony! Our house was green and white, but my dad didn’t like it. It was a sad day, but after the “goodbye,” she was content. When Samuel was ten, the Broncos won the Superbowl. We have gone to Las Vegas every July, but this year, we did not go. How did you do? Melanie and I were talking on the phone when my grandfather arrived. I used to think that televisions were evil, but yesterday I bought a Sony! C’était un jour triste, mais après les “au revoirs” elle a été contente. When Samuel was ten, the Broncos won the Superbowl. Notre maison était verte et blanche mais mon père ne l’aimait pas. It was a sad day, but after the “goodbye,” she was content. Je pensais que les télévisions étaient malveillantes, mais hier j’ai acheté un Sony. Our house was green and white, but my dad didn’t like it. Mélanie et moi parlions au téléphone quand mon grand-père est arrivé. Quand Samuel avait dix ans, les Broncos ont gagné le Superbowl. We have gone to Las Vegas every July, but this year, we did not go. Nous allions à Las Vegas tous les juillets, mais cette année, nous ne sommes pas allées. Things to remember Passé composé and imparfait are “partners” but they are not interchangeable Imparfait does not need a helping verb Imparfait endings cannot be used alone; it’s an entire conjugated verb! In speaking, you have to be super-careful about pronunciation, especially when there is an “il a” plus an –er past participle These two tenses don’t really exist in English, so it doesn’t translate well. Don’t translate; use context and ideas. It takes a while to get used to it! (The only thing that will help is lots of practice.) Homework, to be turned in next class: What skill does learning about imparfait/passé composé build? Why do you think you need that skill? What are the context criteria for passé composé and imparfait? Why is it important to know how to conjugate verbs for “nous”? What is the imparfait stem of être? Who is Bill the Dragon? Which one of the “things to remember” is the most likely to help you in the future? You will need to show me notes that you took and the practice sentences that you tried, while watching this video! Good luck with storytelling!
