Monsieur McKenna

Teacher of French

On ne change pas une équipe qui gagne. -French proverb

“One does not change a winning team.” In other words, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Email: mckennaj@lcmrschools.com | Phone: (609) 884-3475

LCMR School District - 687 Route 9, Cape May, NJ 08204

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Unité 6

Chez nous

cafe

Leçon 24:

Montrez-moi vos papiers!

OBJECTIVES

Students will be able …

Communicative Functions and Topics

To give background information about specific past events
To describe the circumstances of an event
To talk about accidents
To describe the past
To read for pleasure

Linguistic Goals

To use the imperfect tense
To contrast the imperfect and passé composé

Cultural Goals

To compare French and American daily schedules

Vidéo

Warm up activities

1, 2 & 3

Petit VOCABULAIRE Un accident

Qu’est-ce qui est arrivé?                   What happened?
Un accident a eu lieu.                         An accident took place.

un conducteur (une conductrice) driver
un témoin                                           witness
un panneau                                        (traffic) sign

heurter                                               to run into
traverser                                            to cross

A. L’usage de l’imparfait: circonstances d’un événement

In the sentences below, an accident is described.
Note the use of the PASSÉ COMPOSÉ and the IMPERFECT.

The PASSÉ COMPOSÉ is used to describe a well-defined action, completed at a specific
point in time. (The mention of time may be omitted.)

Hier, Pauline a vu un accident.         Yesterday Pauline saw an accident.
Elle a téléphoné à la police.                She called the police.
Une ambulance est arrivée.               An ambulance arrived.

The IMPERFECT is used to describe conditions and circumstances that form the
background of another past action.

TIME AND WEATHER

Il était deux heures.                          It was two (o’clock).
La visibilité était mauvaise.                The visibility was poor.
Il neigeait.                                        It was snowing.

OUTWARD APPEARANCE; PHYSICAL, MENTAL, OR EMOTIONAL STATE

Le conducteur était un homme jeune.            The driver was a young man.
Il portait un manteau gris.                              He was wearing a gray coat.
Il n’était pas prudent.                                    He was not careful.

EXTERNAL CIRCUMSTANCES

Il n’y avait pas d’autres passagers. There were no other passengers.
La voiture allait vite. The car was going fast.

OTHER ACTIONS IN PROGRESS

Pauline allait en ville. Pauline was going downtown.
Sa copine l’attendait. Her friend was waiting for her.

B. Résumé: L’usage de l’imparfait et du passé composé

In talking about the past, the French use both the IMPERFECT and the PASSÉ COMPOSÉ.
The choice of tense reflects the type of actions or events that are being described.