The difference between imparfait and passe compose

Question

may anyone answer my question please:when do we use imparfait and is there any sameness between the two tensemany tks

Accepted Answer

Bonjour Khang,
The answers you have been given are great. I have added examples to illustrate the difference:

Le chat avait faim = the cat was hungry -> background action / Imparfait
J'allais à l'école à pied = I used to walk to school -> past habit / Imparfait
 
Je suis allé au supermarché ce matin = I went to the supermarket this morning -> completed action / Passé Composé
J'ai fait des études de droit = I studied Law -> completed action / Passé Composé

Here are two links which should help 'summarise' the difference between L'Imparfait and Le Passé Composé.
I hope this is helpful.
Bonne journée !

Answer

Hi Khang,Both tenses seek to express past actions.The imparfait expresses incomplete past events - perhaps historical background activity that was in progress when something else happened. In English we may use terms like "was/were/would."The Passé composé expresses completed past actions  --  "I was (imparfait) reading the newspaper when the doorbell rang (Passé composé)"Hope this helps.Jim

Answer

This is a broad question with no short answer and lots of intricacies and examples required in order to start making sense. I suggest you just stick with the kwizziq lessons because there are some good ones on particularly this subject. If you still have difficulties, by all means, ask away.

To satisfy your curiosity, though: passé composé is for completed actions in the past, whereas imparfait is for longer duration actions or "background" setting descriptions of state in the past.