Pass Compos & Imparfait

Pass Compos & ImparfaitStorytelling skills

Dont forget: there is homework assigned at the end of this presentation. Some of the instructions may be oral!

StorytellingTake 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 didnt 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!

3For storytelling, two types of past-tense exist in French:Pass compos, used in these contexts:Events on a specific occasionSequence of eventsEmotional reactionAn event that interrupted something already happeningImparfait (Imperfect) used in these contexts:Setting the sceneThe concept used toGeneral descriptionEmotional descriptionSomething already happening when another event interrupted itSomething in the past that was ongoing

Imparfait

Pass compos

Conjugation of verbs in imparfait:Step 1: Conjugate the verb for nous in present tense. Example regardonsStep 2: Remove the ons ending. Example - regard

This gives you the imparfait stem.The only exception to this rule is our good friend tre.

The imparfait stem of tre is: t

Given that tre 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: aisnous: ionstu: aisvous: iezil/elle/on: aitils/elles: aient

**in green are endings that sound exactly alike pronounced eh

Examples of ImparfaitSetting the sceneThe concept used toGeneral descriptionEmotional descriptionSomething already happening when another event interrupted itSomething in the past that was ongoing

Un jour, jtudiaisIl regardait Glee.Paris tait beau!Ma mre tait trs due.Marie et La avaient 6 ans quandNous assistions Summit Ridge M.S.

See if you can do it yourself!Note: Just like always, do not conjugate tre (in any tense) and follow it with a verb!It was six oclock and we were eating breakfastMy dad used to have a Corvette.She was tall.I was happy!I was doing dishes whenEvery summer my parents went to the Grand Canyon.

How did you do?Note: Just like always, do not conjugate tre (in any tense) and follow it with a verb!It was six oclock and we were eating breakfastIl tait six heures et nous mangions le petit djeunerMy dad used to have a Corvette.Mon pre avait une Corvette.She was tall.Elle tait grande.I was happy!Jtais heureux!I was doing dishes whenJe faisais la vaisselle quandEvery summer my parents went to the Grand Canyon.Tous les ts, mes parents allaient au Grand Canyon.

How about questions and negatives?What were you (formal) doing when?I didnt 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?Quest-ce que vous faisiez quand?I didnt used to want children.Je ne voulais pas denfants.Was she pretty?Etait-elle jolie?We were not angry, we were disappointed.Nous ntions pas fchs, nous tions dus.Were you (plural) playing soccer whenEst-ce que vous jouiez au football quandYou (informal) did not finish your homework when you were younger.Tu ne finissais pas tes devoirs quand tu tais plus jeune.

Lets talk about contextBefore you can storytell in French, you have context for pass compos 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 Frenchwhich tense would you use for each underlined word? Pass compos 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! Youre 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 Id like to go out to dinner. I said yes!

Now lets 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 didnt 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.Mlanie et moi parlions au tlphone quand mon grand-pre est arriv.I used to think that televisions were evil, but yesterday I bought a Sony!Je pensais que les tlvisions taient malveillantes, mais hier jai achet un Sony.Our house was green and white, but my dad didnt like it.Notre maison tait verte et blanche mais mon pre ne laimait pas.It was a sad day, but after the goodbye, she was content.Ctait un jour triste, mais aprs les au revoirs elle a t contente.When Samuel was ten, the Broncos won the Superbowl.Quand Samuel avait dix ans, les Broncos ont gagn le Superbowl.We have gone to Las Vegas every July, but this year, we did not go.Nous allions Las Vegas tous les juillets, mais cette anne, nous ne sommes pas alles.

Things to rememberPass compos and imparfait are partners but they are not interchangeableImparfait does not need a helping verbImparfait endings cannot be used alone; its 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 participleThese two tenses dont really exist in English, so it doesnt translate well. Dont 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/pass compos build? Why do you think you need that skill?What are the context criteria for pass compos and imparfait?Why is it important to know how to conjugate verbs for nous?What is the imparfait stem of tre?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!