passé composé vs. l'imparfait

Luciana A.A2Kwiziq community member

passé composé vs. l'imparfait

In the sentence "donc ce n'était pas trop compliqué !"
Why was l'imparfait used? I thought lepassé composé would be a best fit for the sentence.
Asked 4 years ago
CélineKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Bonjour Luciana,

As Jim mentioned, the sentence describes an opinion/a state of facts about a situation, in which case l'imparfait will be used. 

See link to Kwiziq lesson: Expressing opinions and describing with the imperfect tense in French (L'Imparfait)

Plus as mentioned in the lesson (see link above), when the verb être is used in a past context, it usually is in L'Imparfait as it describes something/fact or as it expresses an opinion. 

For example: 

c'était bien! 

It was great!

Le test était horrible et compliqué!

The test was horrible and complicated!

 

I hope it is helpful. 

Bonne journée!  

Jim J.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

As I see it the text is describing a "state" of complication. Être is appropriate but the situation historically and enduring,  therefore  était. The point is the "enduring historic situation" rather than "completed."

Hope this helps?

passé composé vs. l'imparfait

In the sentence "donc ce n'était pas trop compliqué !"
Why was l'imparfait used? I thought lepassé composé would be a best fit for the sentence.

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