Past events and upcoming plans
In this module, most finished actions use the . It is very common in spoken and everyday written French for events like “the concert started” or “I found the cat.” The basic pattern is present or + a past participle, for example or .
Use it for single completed events in the past: / A useful time phrase is = “ten minutes ago”:
With negatives, put around the helper verb: , . Keep the past participle after .
At A1 level, learn whole chunks first. You do not need every participle yet, but the pattern is important: , , , , .
| Form | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| + past participle | I looked for Félix. | |
| I looked for Félix. | ||
| I saw him ten minutes ago. | ||
| I saw him ten minutes ago. | ||
| + helper verb | I did not find the cat. | |
| I did not find the cat. | ||
| + past participle | The drum fell. | |
| The drum fell. | ||
Le concert a commencé à huit heures.The concert started at eight o’clock.
Julien a joué dans le noir.Julien played in the dark.
Je n’ai pas trouvé Félix.I did not find Félix.
Il a crié dans le noir.He screamed in the dark.
Quelque chose est tombé.Something fell.
Vous avez entendu la trompette ?Did you hear the trumpet?
Je suis allé dans la cour le soir.I went into the courtyard in the evening.
Je suis allée dans la cour le soir.I went into the courtyard in the evening.
Je suis venu pour regarder les photos.I came to look at the photos.
Je suis venue pour regarder les photos.I came to look at the photos.
Practice 1/6 · Finding words
Notice the useful pattern
Tap the form practised in this unit.
.
The concert started at eight o’clock.
.
Julien played in the dark.
.
I did not find Félix.
.
He screamed in the dark.
Practice 2/6 · The right form
Choose the form
Use the English meaning and the pattern in this unit.
Le concert à huit heures.
The concert started at eight o’clock.
Julien dans le noir.
Julien played in the dark.
Je Félix.
I did not find Félix.
Il dans le noir.
He screamed in the dark.
Quelque chose .
Something fell.
Vous la trompette ?
Did you hear the trumpet?
Je dans la cour le soir.
I went into the courtyard in the evening.
Je dans la cour le soir.
I went into the courtyard in the evening.
Je pour regarder les photos.
I came to look at the photos.
Je pour regarder les photos.
I came to look at the photos.
Practice 3/6 · Fill the gaps
Complete the messages
Fill the gaps with the words from the box.
Je Félix.
I did not find Félix.
Il dans le noir.
He screamed in the dark.
Quelque chose .
Something fell.
Vous la trompette ?
Did you hear the trumpet?
Je dans la cour le soir.
I went into the courtyard in the evening.
Je dans la cour le soir.
I went into the courtyard in the evening.
Je pour regarder les photos.
I came to look at the photos.
Je pour regarder les photos.
I came to look at the photos.
Practice 4/6 · Building sentences
Build a sentence
Put the words in order.
The concert started at eight o’clock.
Julien played in the dark.
I did not find Félix.
He screamed in the dark.
Something fell.
Did you hear the trumpet?
Practice 5/6 · In situations
What would you say?
Choose the right words for the situation.
The concert started at eight o’clock.
You say:
Use the meaning and French pattern explained in this unit.
The concert started at eight o’clock.
You say:
Use the meaning and French pattern explained in this unit.
Julien played in the dark.
You say:
Use the meaning and French pattern explained in this unit.
Julien played in the dark.
You say:
Use the meaning and French pattern explained in this unit.
I did not find Félix.
You say:
Use the meaning and French pattern explained in this unit.
I did not find Félix.
You say:
Use the meaning and French pattern explained in this unit.
He screamed in the dark.
You say:
Use the meaning and French pattern explained in this unit.
He screamed in the dark.
You say:
Use the meaning and French pattern explained in this unit.
Practice 6/6 · Matching
Connect messages and meanings
Match the pairs.
Unit complete
