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Why use passé composé instead of l'imparfait when referring to restaurant?

jas e.A1Kwiziq community member

Why use passé composé instead of l'imparfait when referring to restaurant?

Hi, 

I'm wondering why we would say 'on a dégusté des spécialités lyonnaises' rather than 'on dégustait des spécialités lyonnaises'. I thought that we would use the imperfect in this case as it happened over an extended period of time?


This question relates to:French writing exercise "Weekend in Lyon"

Freeform Writing Exercise A2

Asked 5 years ago
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Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

The text just states that they went to a Restaurant to enjoy Lyonnese specialties. I understood this to have been a singular event in the past and therefore a prime candidate for the passé composé.

You'd use the imparfait if you wanted to say, e.g., that they were always eating at that restaurant during their vacation.

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Jessica L.A1Kwiziq community member

The period of time is dinner, and is thus fixed, or over.

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jas e. asked:

Why use passé composé instead of l'imparfait when referring to restaurant?

Hi, 

I'm wondering why we would say 'on a dégusté des spécialités lyonnaises' rather than 'on dégustait des spécialités lyonnaises'. I thought that we would use the imperfect in this case as it happened over an extended period of time?


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