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Passé composé |
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a) Actions in the past that are finished and lasted a certain period of time. |
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J' ai habité 30 ans en Aix en Provence.
I lived in Aix en Provence for 30 years.
(I do no longer live there) |
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J' ai lu le livre.
I read the book.
(I am finished with it. The last page is read.) |
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b) Different actions in the past are following one another. |
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Il est allé à Paris, la il a rencontré avec un ami y aprés il a acheté un cadeau pour sa femme.
He went to Paris, there he met with a friend and afther that he bought a present for his wife. |
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c) When there are two different actions, the one interrupting the other is described in the passé composé. This is thought as an action that is short and concentrated on a certain point of time. |
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Je lisais un livre quand le téléphone a sonné.
I was reading a book, when the telephone rang. |
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d) When actions are finished* in the same period of time, when they are told; OR when actions are finished and their influence is still strong when they are told. |
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Aujourd' hui je me suis levé à six heures.
This morning I got up at six o'clock. |
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Cette année il a arrêté de fumer.
This year he has stopped smoking. |
