It was only after I moved to the capital that

Question

I thought this sentence calls for past tense. But why all the solution is in present tense ?

solutions

Ce n'est que lorsque j'ai emménagé dans la capitale que

C'est seulement quand j'ai emménagé dans la capitale que

C'est seulement quand j'ai déménagé dans la capitale que

ce n'était seulement après que j'avais déménagé à la capitale que

Accepted Answer

Bonjour Nellie,
1. 'C'est' is in Le Présent historique / Présent de narration (as someone is narrating a fact about his life), which is better translated in the Simple Past in English. Hence, the hint given in the exercise.
2. Présent + Le Passé Composé -> Imparfait + Plus-Que-Parfait
Ce n'est que lorsque j'ai emménagé... -> Ce n'était que lorsque j'avais emménagé...
 
I hope this is helpful.
Bonne journée !

Answer

Hi Nellie,I'm a bit confused by your question.All four of your "solutions" are in fact past tenses. The first three passé composé, the last plus-que-parfait."It was only after I moved to the capital that....."The verb in the above (moved) is the past tense of the verb, to moveHave I understood your question correctly?JIm

Answer

Thanks a lot Jim ! the last one is my attempt which differs from the first 3 which were kwiziq solutions.

It was only = ce n'est

OR

it was only = ce n'étais ?

since I used ¨ce n'étais¨ then should I also use ¨j'avais déménagé¨ to match the tense ?

Thanks !

Answer

I don't know whether the whole story was in the présent historique, but, if not, then I think the explanation is a bit different. There is a general tendency to use "c'est" in the present tense, when we would use the past tense, "it was", in English.

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