Passé Composé vs. Imparfait: The Definitive Guide for TCF Reading Success

Introduction: The Narrative Tenses Battle

If you've ever read a TCF (Test de Connaissance du Français) Reading passage and felt like the timeline was a blur, you're not alone. The distinction between Passé Composé and Imparfait is the most common grammatical hurdle for B2/C1 candidates.

In the high-level Task 4 and 5 texts, the examiners use these tenses to create layers of meaning. If you can't tell the difference between a "setting" (Imparfait) and an "action" (Passé Composé), you will misinterpret the main idea of the text.