Present Perfect (Passé
Composé)
The passé composé is used to describe actions
that occurred in the past. They may be single events or series:
-
J'ai fini mes devoirs.
I finished my homework.
-
Il y a deux ans, elle a quitté son mari.
Two years ago, she left her husband.
-
Je suis allée à l'école, j'ai joué au foot,
et j'ai fait mes devoirs. Quelle journée!
I went to school, I played soccer, and I did
my homework. What a day!
Note: While verbs describing mental and emotional states in the
past are often in the imparfait, they can be put in the passé
composé when one wishes to signal a change or a reaction:
-
Quand le serpent lui est tombé sur la tête, il a eu peur.
When the snake fell on his head, he was frightened.
See also Use
of Present and Imperfect, and Pluperfect
(use).
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