French for Asking About Past Experiences: The Passé Composé in Questions
Learn to ask others what they did in the past using the passé composé, with question formation and time expressions.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
In this lesson, you will learn to ask other people about their past experiences in French. The focus is on questions, not on telling your own stories. You will use the passé composé, the most common past tense for completed actions. You will also learn question structures and time expressions like 'le week-end dernier' (last weekend). By the end, you will be able to ask what someone did, where they went, and whether they had a good time.
By the end, you can…
- ask someone what they did using the passé composé.
- ask where someone went and with whom.
- ask if someone had a good time or liked something.
- use time expressions like 'hier' and 'le week-end dernier' in questions.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Qu'est-ce que tu as fait le week-end dernier ?
What did you do last weekend?
kess-kuh too ah fay luh week-end duhr-nyay
Informal, used with someone you address as 'tu'. 'Le week-end' is borrowed from English and common in France.
Où est-ce que tu es allé(e) ?
Where did you go?
oo ess-kuh too ay ah-lay
Informal. Add 'e' to 'allé' if the person is female: 'allée'. The pronunciation is the same.
Tu as aimé ?
Did you like it?
too ah ay-may
Very common in conversation. It asks if the person enjoyed something just mentioned.
Qu'est-ce que vous avez fait hier ?
What did you do yesterday?
kess-kuh voo-zah-vay fay ee-yair
Formal or plural. Use 'vous' with strangers, older people, or more than one person.
Tu t'es amusé(e) ?
Did you have a good time?
too tay ah-moo-zay
Informal. For a female, write 'amusée'. This is a pronominal verb, so it uses 'être' in the passé composé.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To ask about past experiences, use the passé composé. It is formed with the present tense of 'avoir' or 'être' plus a past participle. Most verbs use 'avoir': 'Tu as fait' (you did), 'Tu as vu' (you saw), 'Tu as mangé' (you ate). A small group of verbs, including 'aller', use 'être': 'Tu es allé(e)' (you went). In questions, you can use 'Est-ce que' at the beginning: 'Est-ce que tu as fait quelque chose ?' (Did you do something?). In informal speech, you can also just use rising intonation: 'Tu as fait quelque chose ?'
When to use it
Use these questions when you want to learn about someone's recent experiences: after a weekend, a holiday, or a specific event. Time expressions like 'hier' (yesterday), 'la semaine dernière' (last week), and 'le week-end dernier' (last weekend) often appear. For example: 'Qu'est-ce que tu as fait hier ?' (What did you do yesterday?). Use 'tu' with friends, family, and peers; use 'vous' in formal situations or with groups. In Quebec, 'tu' is often used more freely than in France, but 'vous' remains the safer choice with people you don't know.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Salut ! Qu'est-ce que tu as fait le week-end dernier ?
Hi! What did you do last weekend?sah-loo kess-kuh too ah fay luh week-end duhr-nyayJ'ai visité Lyon. C'était super !
I visited Lyon. It was great!zhay vee-zee-tay lee-ohn say-tay soo-pairTu as aimé ?
Did you like it?too ah ay-mayOui, beaucoup. Et toi, tu as fait quelque chose ?
Yes, a lot. And you, did you do something?wee boh-koo ay twah too ah fay kel-kuh shozA little context goes a long way
In French conversation, asking about past experiences is common among friends and acquaintances, but avoid asking very personal questions about salary or health. Use 'vous' with people you don't know well in France; in Quebec, 'tu' is often used more freely. Also, 'le week-end' is standard in France, while in Quebec you may hear 'la fin de semaine'.
One thing to watch for
Using the imperfect tense to ask about a specific completed action, e.g., 'Qu'est-ce que tu faisais hier ?' when you mean 'What did you do yesterday?'
Try this instead: Use the passé composé for a completed action: 'Qu'est-ce que tu as fait hier ?' The imperfect 'faisais' is for ongoing or habitual past actions, like 'Quand j'étais enfant, je jouais au foot' (When I was a child, I played soccer).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you ask a friend 'What did you do yesterday?' informally?
Show a sample answer
Qu'est-ce que tu as fait hier ?
This uses 'tu' and the passé composé with 'avoir'. You could also ask 'Tu as fait quoi hier ?' in very informal speech.
2Translate: 'Did you (formal) like the film?'
Show a sample answer
Est-ce que vous avez aimé le film ?
Use 'vous' for formal or plural. 'Avez aimé' is the passé composé. You could also ask 'Vous avez aimé le film ?' with rising intonation.
3Which auxiliary verb does 'aller' use in the passé composé?
Show a sample answer
être
'Aller' uses 'être': 'Je suis allé(e)'. Most verbs use 'avoir', but 'aller' and a small group of movement verbs use 'être'.
To ask about past experiences in French, use the passé composé with 'avoir' or 'être', add time expressions like 'hier' or 'le week-end dernier', and choose 'tu' or 'vous' based on formality.
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