Expressing the close past in French using "venir de" + [infinitive] (Le Passé Proche)

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In English, to express something you've just done, you use the Present Perfect. In French, you need to use a specific expression.

How to say you've just done something in French

Look at these examples of Passé Proche:

Je viens de finir mon livreI've just finished my book

Tu viens de rater ton train.You've just missed your train.

Laurent vient d'arriver à l'instantLaurent has just arrived this instant

Nous venons d'apprendre la nouvelle.We've just heard the news.

Vous venez de faire vos devoirs.You've just done your homework.

Ils viennent de recevoir leurs résultats !They've just got their results!

In French, recent past actions are expressed with the phrase venir de + [infinitif], when in English you would use the Present Perfect with just I have just done, he has just eaten, ...

You can also use venir juste de in French to emphasise how recent the action is.
Je viens juste de finir mon livre.I've just finished my book.

Tu viens juste de rater ton train.You've just missed your train


See also Conjugate venir/tenir and derivatives in the present tense in French (Le Présent)

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Examples and resources

"Le passé récent" by Imagiers
Je viens de finir mon livreI've just finished my book
Laurent vient d'arriver à l'instantLaurent has just arrived this instant
Tu viens juste de rater ton train.You've just missed your train
Tu viens de rater ton train.You've just missed your train.
Je viens juste de finir mon livre.I've just finished my book.
Nous venons d'apprendre la nouvelle.We've just heard the news.
Ils viennent de recevoir leurs résultats !They've just got their results!
Vous venez de faire vos devoirs.You've just done your homework.
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