Module V·Article III·~2 min read
Narrative about Past Events
The Past Tense: passé composé
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Narrating Past Events in French
Key Time Markers (passé composé)
| Marker | Translation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| hier | yesterday | J'ai travaillé hier. |
| avant-hier | the day before yesterday | Avant-hier, nous avons signé. |
| la semaine dernière | last week | La semaine dernière, j'ai voyagé. |
| le mois dernier | last month | Le mois dernier, nous avons lancé. |
| l'an dernier / l'année dernière | last year | L'an dernier, nous avons investi. |
| il y a + time | ... ago | Il y a trois jours. |
| ce matin | this morning | Ce matin, j'ai eu une réunion. |
| récemment | recently | Récemment, j'ai rencontré le PDG. |
| déjà | already | J'ai déjà envoyé le rapport. |
Business Narratives
Story about a Business Trip
Comment s'est passé votre voyage à Paris?
I went to Paris last week to meet our French partners. I left on Sunday evening and arrived on Monday morning. I had three important meetings. First, I met the development team. Then, we visited their new premises. Finally, I had dinner with the sales director and we discussed collaboration prospects.
I also had time to visit the Real Estate Expo—it was very interesting. I returned on Wednesday evening. Overall, the trip was very productive.
Meeting Minutes (protocol)
The meeting took place on March 15 at 10 o’clock. Present were: Mr. Dupont (CEO), Ms. Martin (CFO), Mr. Chen (Sales Director).
The participants discussed the first quarter results. Mr. Dupont presented the sales figures. Ms. Martin analyzed the costs. We identified three areas for improvement. The next meeting was scheduled for March 22.
Story about a Career Path
After my studies at HEC Paris, I started my career in investment banking. I worked at Société Générale for three years. Then, I joined a private equity firm in London. Five years ago, I decided to move to Dubai to take advantage of Gulf market opportunities. I founded my own investment consulting firm. Since then, I have developed a client network in the GCC, Europe, and Asia.
Questions about the Past
- Qu'est-ce qui s'est passé? — What happened?
- Comment ça s'est passé? — How did it go?
- Avez-vous parlé au client? — Did you talk to the client?
- Est-ce que vous avez reçu le contrat? — Did you receive the contract?
- Quand avez-vous pris cette décision? — When did you make this decision?
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