ElderlyPerson
Kali2
If you really want to learn French- just forget about the Passé Simple. It is archaïc and not used any more, so why makes things complicated with useless stuff. If it is for fun, as a bit of a joke, then it's OK to use it, but only if.
It is certainly not a joke.
Fun, yes, but also to explore the classical style.
But was the tense used in French novels in the past?
For example, did Alexandre Dumas use the past historic?
Yes he did, and so many others too. So it is useful to be able to recognise the Passé Simple, and to understand it when reading all the classical authors.
However, anyone who wants to learn French as it is used today, even by well educated people- then there is absolutely no need to learn to use it actively, be it orally or in writing.
I imagine most people who want to learn a language do so because they want to be able to communicate well, freely and effectively. And in this context, the Passé Simple is just not required, and in fact, becomes an obstacle.
To tell a story that happened in the past- you use the Passé Composé, with 'avoir' and 'mouvement' verbs with 'être' for all actions, and the Imperfect for all descriptions as in 'il y avait'
...beaucoup de touristes
... des champignons
...des souris
...de la neige
or
c'était fabuleux
les touristes étaient très bruyants
le soleil brillait
il faisait très chaud
les enfants jouaient sur la plage avec des unicornes gonflables
etc, etc.
Ce Week-end je suis allé à Paris.
Il faisait beau et chaud.
J'ai visité la Tour Eiffel et ensuite, je suis allé à La Place des Vosges. J'ai mangé une quiche et j'ai bu un Pinot noir excellent.
Je me suis bien régalé (passé composé of reflexive verds are also used with 'être').
