Question 1

Why do we use two different past tenses in this sentence (a frappé and mangions)?

Accepted Answer

This is a classic example of how the passé composé and imparfait work together! We use the imparfait (nous mangions) for the ongoing background action ("we were eating"). We use the passé composé (a frappé) for the sudden, completed action that interrupts it ("struck").

Question 2

Why is there no "e" after the "g" in mangions?

Accepted Answer

For verbs ending in -ger, you usually add an extra "e" before an "a" or "o" to keep the soft "g" sound (like in je mangeais). But with nous in the imparfait, the ending is -ions. Because the letter "i" naturally keeps the "g" soft, you do not need the extra "e".

Question 3

Does pendant que usually trigger the imparfait tense?

Accepted Answer

Yes, when telling a story in the past! Pendant que means "while," so it naturally introduces an ongoing action that is happening in the background. That means the verb immediately following pendant que will almost always be in the imparfait.

Question 4

Why does the adjective grand come before the noun éclair?

Accepted Answer

Most French adjectives go after the noun, but grand is an exception because it describes size. Remember the BANGS rule from earlier lessons (Beauty, Age, Number, Goodness, Size)? Adjectives in these categories go before the noun, giving us un grand éclair.

Un grand éclair a frappé l'arbre pendant que nous mangions.

Breakdown of Un grand éclair a frappé l'arbre pendant que nous mangions.

Questions & Answers about Un grand éclair a frappé l'arbre pendant que nous mangions.

Learn Un grand éclair a frappé l'arbre pendant que nous mangions and more in French