Maybe I noticed a small typo

Shrey R.A1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Maybe I noticed a small typo

Bonjour Madame Aurélie,

While doing a test named “Conte de fées” I landed up at a mysterious sentence -

Le père était àgé et sortirait rarement de son lit, alors sa fille devait s’occuper du jardin et des animaux.

Here I would like to ask you why a dû was marked incorrect although the English translation specifies ‘so his daughter had to take care of the garden .....’ . I read your lesson which states that one uses Passé Composé for an obligation that was very well met. And here too is the same case.

The link to the test -

https://kwiziq.learnfrenchwithalexa.com/my-languages/french/tests/take/2581800

Please help me to figure out the correct option.

Merci d’avance ! 

Bonne journée!

Asked 5 years ago
Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

In the example you quote, the imperfect is used to indicate that caring for the garden and the animals is a usual action, like a background info. If the passé composé were used, it would be a one-shot deal.

Maybe I noticed a small typo

Bonjour Madame Aurélie,

While doing a test named “Conte de fées” I landed up at a mysterious sentence -

Le père était àgé et sortirait rarement de son lit, alors sa fille devait s’occuper du jardin et des animaux.

Here I would like to ask you why a dû was marked incorrect although the English translation specifies ‘so his daughter had to take care of the garden .....’ . I read your lesson which states that one uses Passé Composé for an obligation that was very well met. And here too is the same case.

The link to the test -

https://kwiziq.learnfrenchwithalexa.com/my-languages/french/tests/take/2581800

Please help me to figure out the correct option.

Merci d’avance ! 

Bonne journée!

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