Why is the "il lui coupait" in imparfait and not passé composé? It interprets the first actions (aunt speaking), so I thought it should be passé composé.
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Tense Question
Hi Natasha,
I would say that here the imparfait is used as it is a repetition of the action.
If you had said -
One action completed in the past, hence the passé composé.
But in 'À chaque fois que ma tante.....il lui coupait la parole'
Almost a habit, hence the imparfait.
Hope it helps !
Natasha,
See the attached link - a very good practical discussion of imparfait and passé composé with a couple of good little amusing clips to reinforce.
See ‘List of expressions’ in both links below of expressions usually associated with ‘imparfait’ as they describe ‘habitual’ events - in this case, ‘chaque fois …’
In the first article note also option 4 in the section ‘In the same sentence’.
Simultaneous events are sometimes described with mixed tenses, sometimes same tense, sometimes passé composé if both short duration, sometimes both imparfait - for example if repeated/habitual, longer, varied or uncertain durations, or both considered ‘background’ information.
https://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/french-verb-conjugation/passe-compose-versus-imparfait/
https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/passe-compose-vs-imparfait/
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