In French, when speaking in the past tense, one must constantly choose between the imparfait and the passé composé.
In this exercise we will focus on the formation and the use of the imparfait versus the passé composé.
Ex. #1 - Vocab.?
Ex. #2 - Vocab.?
Ex. #3 - Vocab.?
Ex. #4 - Vocab.?
Ex. #5 - Vocab.?
Ex. #6 - Vocab.?
Ex. #7 - Vocab.?
Ex. #8 - Vocab.?
Ex. #9 - Vocab.?
Ex. #10 - Vocab.?
Proper choice of tense for a description or customary action in the past.
The imparfait is generally used for descriptions of circumstances, situation, background, mental and physical states, or for habitual or repeated actions.
Improper choice of tense for a description or customary action in the past.
Try again.
Improper choice of tense for a description or customary action in the past.
Try again.
Improper choice of auxilary with a reflexive verb.
Try again.
Improper choice of tense for refering to a completed action in the past.
Try again.
Proper choice of auxilary with an intransitive verb.
In the passé composé, intransitive verbs (i.e. those that can not take a direct object) must be conjugated with être (eg: aller, venir, rester, etc...).
Improper choice of auxilary with an intransitive verb.
Try again.
Proper choice of tense to describe a state of mind in the past.
Be aware: the imparfait is most often used to describe states of mind ( penser, savoir, vouloir etc...) in the past, as these tend to last over time.
Improper choice of tense to describe a state of mind in the past.
Try again.
Improper formation of the imparfait.
Try again.
Improper choice of tense for a description or customary action in the past.
Try again.
Improper choice of tense for a description or customary action in the past.
Try again.
Improper choice of auxilary with an intransitive verb.
Try again.
Proper choice of tense for a description or customary action in the past.
The imparfait is generally used for descriptions of circumstances, situation, background, mental and physical states, or for habitual or repeated actions.
Proper choice of tense for refering to a completed action in the past.
The passé composé is used for actions or series of actions in the past that are completed or sudden, with precise beginnings and ends.
Proper choice of auxilary with a transitive verb.
In the passé composé, transitive verbs (i.e. those that can take a direct object) must be conjugated with avoir (eg: donner, lire, manger, etc...)
Improper choice of tense for refering to a completed action in the past.
Try again.
Improper choice of auxilary with a transitive verb.
Try again.
Improper choice of tense for refering to a completed action in the past.
Try again.
Improper choice of auxilary with a transitive verb.
Try again.
Proper choice of tense for refering to a completed action in the past.
The passé composé is used for actions or series of actions in the past that are completed or sudden, with precise beginnings and ends.
Proper choice of auxilary with a transitive verb.
In the passé composé, transitive verbs (i.e. those that can take a direct object) must be conjugated with avoir (eg: donner, lire, manger, etc...)
Proper choice of tense for refering to a completed action in the past.
The passé composé is used for actions or series of actions in the past that are completed or sudden, with precise beginnings and ends.
Proper choice of auxilary with a normally intransitive verb that is used transitively.
Be aware: some intransitive verbs are sometimes used transitively. In these cases they are conjugated with avoir (eg: J'ai monté la valise.)
Improper choice of auxilary with a normally intransitive verb that is used transitively.
Try again.
Improper choice of tense for refering to a completed action in the past.
Try again.
Improper choice of tense for refering to a completed action in the past.
Try again.
Proper choice of tense for refering to a completed action in the past.
The passé composé is used for actions or series of actions in the past that are completed or sudden, with precise beginnings and ends.
Proper choice of auxilary with a reflexive verb.
Be aware: reflexive verbs are conjugated with être (eg: se laver, s'habiller etc...).
Improper choice of auxilary with a reflexive verb.
Try again.
Proper choice of tense for a description or customary action in the past.
The imparfait is generally used for descriptions of circumstances, situation, background, mental and physical states, or for habitual or repeated actions.
Improper choice of tense for a description or customary action in the past.
Try again.
Improper formation of the imparfait.
Try again.
Proper choice of tense to describe a state of mind in the past.
Be aware: the imparfait is most often used to describe states of mind ( penser, savoir, vouloir etc...) in the past, as these tend to last over time.
Improper choice of tense to describe a state of mind in the past.
Try again.
Improper choice of tense for a description or customary action in the past.
Try again.
Proper choice of tense for a description or customary action in the past.
The imparfait is generally used for descriptions of circumstances, situation, background, mental and physical states, or for habitual or repeated actions.
Improper choice of tense for refering to a completed action in the past.
Try again.
Proper choice of tense for refering to a completed action in the past.
The passé composé is used for actions or series of actions in the past that are completed or sudden, with precise beginnings and ends.
Improper choice of auxilary with an intransitive verb.
Try again.
In French, when speaking in the past tense, one must constantly choose between the imparfait and the passé composé.
In this exercise we will focus on the formation and the use of the imparfait versus the passé composé.
The items covered are:
The imparfait is formed on the root of the nous form of the present. The -ons is dropped and the endings of the imparfait are added (-ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient).
The passé composé is composed of the auxilary être or avoir conjugated in the present followed by the present participle of the verb in question.
The imparfait is generally used for descriptions of circumstances, situation, background, mental and physical states, or for habitual or repeated actions.
Be aware: the imparfait is most often used to describe states of mind ( penser, savoir, vouloir etc...) in the past, as these tend to last over time.
The passé composé is used for actions or series of actions in the past that are completed or sudden, with precise beginnings and ends.
Ex. 2 Ex. 5 Ex. 6 Ex. 7 Ex. 10
In the passé composé, transitive verbs (i.e. those that can take a direct object) must be conjugated with avoir (eg: donner, lire, manger, etc...)
In the passé composé, intransitive verbs (i.e. those that can not take a direct object) must be conjugated with être (eg: aller, venir, rester, etc...).
Be aware: reflexive verbs are conjugated with être (eg: se laver, s'habiller etc...).
Be aware: some intransitive verbs are sometimes used transitively. In these cases they are conjugated with avoir (eg: J'ai monté la valise.)
Copyright 1998 Samuel Schiminovich and Anne Boyman.
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