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Jul 26, 2007. #2. Vouloir is a verb that can "change" meaning depending on whether you put it in passé composé or in imparfait. In imparfait, it describes "a state of mind of unspecified duration," so this is the tense you use if you mean to say "I wanted to see Mom right away." But in passé composé, vouloir means that you acted (specific ...
See also FR: pouvoir, vouloir, savoir, penser - past tenses My French grammar review book says that the meaning of pouvoir is different in the imparfait and the pass é composé (at least in the negative). The examples given are: Il ne pouvait pas sortir. He couldn't go out. (It was hard for him.) Il n'a pas pu sortir. He couldn't go out (and ...
And so we use the imparfait with these sorts of verbs when we want to describe "states of mind." This usage is very common, because most thinking, wanting, knowing, etc. doesn't happen all at once. On other hand, using the passé composé with these sorts of verbs means you are describing a punctual, definite duration, or all-at-once sort of ...
For more information about passé composé vs. imparfait with vouloir, you might find the following thread interesting: FR: vouloir - imparfait / passé composé And yes, accents are quite necessary on these forums; Covered's link should help you out there.
1) « Il me semble » almost has the same meaning as « je pense » or « je crois ». Both « croire » and « penser » are followed by the indicative form of the verb, so « il me semble » would too. 2) However, I was also taught that « il semble que » is followed by the subjunctive because it expresses doubt and uncertainty.
Salut, J'ai besoin d'utilliser l'imparfait où le passé composé dans ce texte: Le weekend dernier, un ami m'a invité à une boum. J'ai eu envie de sortir, alors j'ai accepté 'invitation. Je suis partié(e) à huit heures, parce que j'ai voulu arriver après les autres. I am able to differentiate...
Actually, I would conjugate vouloir with the imparfait. "Je ne voulais jamais y aller" l'imparfait is generally used for states or conditions that existed in the past, and for ongoing, continuous, or repeated activities without any clear reference to when they began and/or ended.
Bon, voici une partie d'un petit texte. Cette petite histoire a lieu dans le passé comme vous voyez. Je voudrais savoir si le passé composé du verbe 'vouloir' est bien dans ce cas ou si l'imparfait serait préférable. Je suis allée aussi au Mont Saint-Michel en autobus. C'était un peu cher, mais c'était très bien !
vouloir is one of the verbs that "changes meaning" in the passé composé vouloir = to want, to wish je voulais (imparfait) = I wanted, I wished (describes a continuing past condition, a state of existance) j'ai voulu = I tried, I attempted (you acted on your feeling of wanting; a one-time event)
The imparfait is better for vouloir que. If it's very literary, the subjonctif imparfait must be applied to être (voulait qu'il fût là, note the accent on u). In every day language, the subjonctif présent is used in such a case (voulait qu'il soit).