"C'était la dernière fois que je venais te vois."

Judy B.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

"C'était la dernière fois que je venais te vois."

Why does "que je venais" translate to "that I was coming" and not "that I came"?
Asked 8 years ago
LauraFrench expert and teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer
Bonjour Judy,

"Je venais" is the imperfect - it's equivalent to the English past progressive: "I was coming." Please see https://www.french-test.com/revision/grammar/use-limparfait-imperfect-tense-to-describe-continuing-action-in-the-past

If you wanted to say "I came," you need the passé composé: "Je suis venu."
AurélieNative French expert teacher in Kwiziq
The correct sentence is French would actually be "C'était la dernière fois que je venais te voiR." :)
Judy B. asked:

"C'était la dernière fois que je venais te vois."

Why does "que je venais" translate to "that I was coming" and not "that I came"?

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