le passé simple

• uses

  • found in historical and literary texts
  • mostly in 3rd person (singular and plural)
  • expresses a punctual action in the past, can be used alongside the imperfect tense
• -er verbs endings

  -a , -èrent
• -ir and -re endings

  -it , -irent
• irregular verbs endings

  -it , -irent OR -ut , -urent
• je and nous verbs in the past historic tense are very rare
• je and nous endings -er vebs

  -ai , -âmes
• je and nous endings -ir and -re verbs

  -is , -îmes
• je and nous endings irregular verbs

  -is , -îmes OR -us , -ûmes
• he walked

  il marcha
• they read the book

  elles lurent le livre