Clarification please

MaartenC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Clarification please

From the lesson «When talking about two actions that happen simultaneously, you will use : 

en + Participe présent / Gérondif»; can you not also use imparfait and passé composé eg Je courait quand j'ai rencontré Mathilde ?  I am not suggesting the same meaning or English translation, but the sentence still describes the simultaneous occurrence of events, that could also be described using le gérondif. If that is correct, the quote from the lesson should replace 'will use' with 'can use' (and preferably reference the lesson on passé composé and imparfait being used together as another). If there are reasons to choose one over the other, worth noting as well.

Asked 4 years ago
CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hi Maarten, 

I have changed 'will' to 'can use' in the body of the lesson but as this lesson is about forming and using le gérondif, I think suggesting other ways of describing simultaneous actions using other tenses would only serve to confuse learners.

 

Clarification please

From the lesson «When talking about two actions that happen simultaneously, you will use : 

en + Participe présent / Gérondif»; can you not also use imparfait and passé composé eg Je courait quand j'ai rencontré Mathilde ?  I am not suggesting the same meaning or English translation, but the sentence still describes the simultaneous occurrence of events, that could also be described using le gérondif. If that is correct, the quote from the lesson should replace 'will use' with 'can use' (and preferably reference the lesson on passé composé and imparfait being used together as another). If there are reasons to choose one over the other, worth noting as well.

Sign in to submit your answer

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Ask a question

Find your French level for FREE

Test your French to the CEFR standard

Find your French level
Thinking...