Gap-fill
French A2 gap-fill: a usual commute and one day by bike
Choose imparfait or passé composé in twelve gaps about a colleague cycling to work. Contrast a usual routine, background details and one completed journey.
- A2
- 12 gaps
- Translation included
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In short
Use the imparfait for Karim’s usual commute and the background to his journey. Use the passé composé for the completed events of that particular Monday. Fill twelve gaps with the appropriate full form; read the whole scene before choosing.
| Job | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Habit | Avant, je marchais tous les matins. | I used to walk every morning. |
| Background | Il faisait froid. | It was cold. |
| Completed event | J’ai traversé le pont. | I crossed the bridge. |
A different commute
Find:
Lundi à vélo
À cette époque, Karim (prendre · usual habit) le bus tous les jours. Il (quitter · usual habit) son appartement à huit heures et il (arriver · usual habit) au bureau vers huit heures quarante. Son vélo restait dans la cave pendant la semaine.
Mais lundi dernier, une grève a changé ses plans. Karim (décider · completed decision) de prendre son vélo. Il (mettre · completed action) son casque, puis il (partir · completed departure) à huit heures dix. Il (faire · weather background) beau et les rues étaient encore calmes.
Pendant qu’il (rouler · action already in progress) près du canal, il a vu sa collègue Ana. Il (s’arrêter · completed action) pour la saluer. Elle allait à pied au même bureau. Après quelques mots, Karim a repris sa route.
Il (traverser · completed action) le pont et il (arriver · completed arrival) au bureau à huit heures trente-cinq. Il (être · state on arrival) un peu fatigué, mais content. À la pause, il a raconté son trajet à Ana. Il voulait refaire le même parcours un autre jour, quand il aurait le temps.
Read it in English
At that time, Karim took the bus every day. He used to leave his flat at eight and arrive at the office at about twenty to nine. His bicycle stayed in the cellar during the week.
But last Monday, a strike changed his plans. Karim decided to take his bicycle. He put on his helmet, then left at ten past eight. The weather was fine and the streets were still quiet.
While he was cycling near the canal, he saw his colleague Ana. He stopped to say hello to her. She was walking to the same office. After a few words, Karim set off again.
He crossed the bridge and arrived at the office at twenty-five to nine. He was a little tired, but happy. During the break, he told Ana about his journey. He wanted to take the same route again another day, when he had time.