How do you know to use the imperfect in the very first sentence? I hear "depuis" and think it's in the present.

AdrienneC1Kwiziq community member

How do you know to use the imperfect in the very first sentence? I hear "depuis" and think it's in the present.

This question relates to:French dictation exercise "A little visitor"

Asked 4 years ago

AaronC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

The whole story is in the past, so the sentence is saying "had been visiting us" instead of "has been visiting us", which is where you would use the present in French.

But also there's an audible difference between the pronunciations of "rend" and "rendait", and you have to exercise your listening ability...

Like24 years ago

Adrienne asked:View original

How do you know to use the imperfect in the very first sentence? I hear "depuis" and think it's in the present.

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« It should be: (1) 'Je lui dis que ...' or Je le dis que ...'? (2) 'Je lui dis une nouvelle' or 'Je le dis une nouvelle'?Mens vs Ment »

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