Je travaillais

Stavroula P.A2Kwiziq community member

Je travaillais

In the beginning of the text, according to the context, "j'ai travaillé" could very well have been "je travaillais". 
In fact, the second is more probable since it fits better: "A few years ago I was working at..." as opposed to " A few years ago I worked at..."

Asked 2 years ago
Jim J.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

Hi Stavroula,

https://kwiziq.learnfrenchwithalexa.com/questions/view/who-s-the-tu

 

Cécile makes the point above about the exercise being dictation and as such just requires you to write what you hear.

Is this not the same case with this question?

Jim

Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

It is the speaker who defines what they want to say - if a native or fluent French speaker uses passé composé, they intend to convey ‘passé composé. If they intend to convey ‘imparfait’ they will use imparfait. There are times when either imparfait or passé composé can be used. It is not possible to decide from an ‘English perspective’ what the French speaker should have said when the primary statement is French. https://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/french-verb-conjugation/passe-compose-versus-imparfait/

Je travaillais

In the beginning of the text, according to the context, "j'ai travaillé" could very well have been "je travaillais". 
In fact, the second is more probable since it fits better: "A few years ago I was working at..." as opposed to " A few years ago I worked at..."

Sign in to submit your answer

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Ask a question

Find your French level for FREE

Test your French to the CEFR standard

Find your French level
Thinking...