In French grammar, verbal aspects describe how an action unfolds over time. Understanding these aspects helps convey whether an action is ongoing, completed, or habitual.
- Imperfective Aspect: Expressed by the imparfait tense, it describes ongoing or repeated actions in the past, as well as background descriptions.
- Perfective Aspect: Expressed by the passé composé tense, it describes completed actions or events.
- Habitual Aspect: Also conveyed by the imparfait, it indicates actions that used to happen regularly.
By grasping these aspects, you can more accurately describe past events and nuances in French storytelling.
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Table of Contents
- Perfect Tenses
French perfect tense overview, including formation, usage rules, and differences between passé composé and plus-que-parfait.
- Progressive Tenses (être en train de)
Progressive tenses in French using the expression "être en train de" to describe ongoing actions.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
