Les temps du passé : révision intégrée
PC, imparfait, plus-que-parfait — working together in narration
At B2, the three past tenses aren't studied separately anymore — they work as a system. The passé composé advances the plot, the imparfait paints the background, and the plus-que-parfait adds a flashback layer. Mastering the dance between all three is what makes your storytelling fluid and natural.
The three-tense system
In any narrative, the three tenses play distinct roles: PC = completed events that move the story forward, imparfait = ongoing states/descriptions/habits, PQP = events that happened BEFORE the main narrative.
| Tense | Role | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Passé composé | Main events (plot) | Il est entré dans le café. |
| Imparfait | Background / description | Il pleuvait et les gens couraient. |
| Plus-que-parfait | Flashback (before the main story) | Il avait oublié son parapluie. |
- Quand je suis arrivé (PC), il pleuvait (imp) et Marie était déjà partie (PQP). — When I arrived, it was raining and Marie had already left.
- Elle m'a dit (PC) qu'elle avait trouvé (PQP) un travail qu'elle adorait (imp). — She told me she had found a job she loved.
Quand je ___ (arriver, PC), elle ___ déjà ___ (partir, PQP).
Which tense describes the BACKGROUND in a past narrative?
Add a PQP flashback
Il est sorti. (Earlier: il a oublié son manteau) →
Il ___ (faire, imp) froid et je ___ (ne pas prendre, PQP) de veste.