By the end of this lesson you'll be able to write a childhood story that mixes the imparfait and the passé composé.
What you've learned
This unit has been about memories. Skim this list, and go back to anything that feels shaky.
- Form the imparfait. You know the stem and the endings, from the lesson on the imparfait.
- Share memories. You can talk about your childhood, from the lesson on childhood memories.
- Choose the tense. You know background from events, from the lesson on choosing between the two past tenses.
- Tell a story. You can put events in order, from the lesson on telling a simple story.
- Talk about school. You know how it works in France, from the lesson on the French school system.
A few new words
| French | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| un souvenir | uhn soo-vuh-NEER | a memory |
| un chien | uhn SHYAN | a dog |
| la forêt | lah foh-REH | the forest |
You'll also see avoir peur (to be afraid), from the lesson on the imperative, and chercher (to look for), from the lesson on regular -er verbs.
A model story
Here's a childhood story in three parts: the habits, a particular day, and the end. Look at each verb and ask why it's in that tense.
The habits and scene (imparfait)
Quand j'étais petit, nous habitions près d'une forêt.
When I was little, we lived near a forest. (said by a man)
Tous les jours, je jouais dehors avec mon chien, Filou.
Every day, I played outside with my dog, Filou.
A particular day (passé composé)
Un jour, Filou est parti.
One day, Filou ran away.
D'abord, j'ai cherché Filou.
First, I looked for Filou.
Ensuite, je suis allé à la forêt, mais j'avais peur.
Next, I went to the forest, but I was afraid.
Soudain, j'ai entendu Filou !
Suddenly, I heard Filou!
The end (passé composé)
Enfin, nous sommes rentrés à la maison.
Finally, we went home.
Notice j'avais peur in the middle of the events. It's a feeling at that moment, so it stays in the imparfait, even between two events.
Why each verb has its tense
Look at how the story moves. The first two sentences don't tell you what happened. They paint a picture of life at the time, so they stay in the imparfait. Un jour is the signal that the story is starting, and from there each sentence moves things along, so you need the passé composé. Soudain brings in the surprise, and enfin closes the story. If you took out the connectors, the tenses would still tell you which sentences are background and which are events.
Your turn
Write your own childhood story on paper or in a notes app. It can be true or invented. Aim for eight to ten sentences, in three parts.
- Set the scene with Quand j'étais petit or petite. Say where you lived, who you lived with, and what you used to do.
- Tell one event. Start with Un jour, and use at least three connectors, such as d'abord, ensuite and soudain.
- End it with enfin, and say how you felt.
Check your work
Go through your story once for each question below.
- Is each description and habit in the imparfait?
- Is each separate event in the passé composé?
- Does each passé composé have the right auxiliary?
- With être, does the participle agree with the subject?
- Did you remember the spelling changes in mangeais, commençais and étudiions?
What's next
The next unit is about work and studies. It starts with the lesson on jobs and the workplace.