French Recent Past
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1- Venir de + infinitive: to have just + past participle
| I have just eaten | Je viens de manger |
| You have just finished | Tu viens de finir |
| He has just arrived | Il vient d’arriver |
| We have just done it | On vient de le faire |
| We have just got up | Nous venons de nous lever |
| You have just said it | Vous venez de le dire |
| They have just left | Ils viennent de partir |
Meaning:
– Depending on the context, it means a few minutes ago or a few days:
On vient de passer à l’heure d’été: We have just switched to daylight savings time (put our clock forward)
A- You can also add the word “juste” in French with the same meaning, just to stress the recent past:
Je viens juste de terminer: I have just finished. The meaning is a few seconds ago. Je viens de manger can be a few minutes ago.
We also add “à l’instant” at the end of the sentence: Il vient de partir à l’instant: he has just this minute gone.
B- In the past, we only use the imparfait (not the passé composé): Il venait de partir: he had just gone.
2- Translation of “I have just been + PP”
I have just been told that: on vient de me dire que
We have just been sent: on vient de nous envoyer
She has just been given: on vient de lui donner
3- Some Expressions you should know:
Il vient de m’arriver une tuile: I have just had a problem
La nouvelle vient de tomber: the news has just come through
Ce que tu viens de dire est horrible: What you have just said is horrible
Un bébé qui vient de naître: a newborn baby
C’est nouveau, ça vient de sortir: it is new, it has just come out
Finally, don’t mix venir de + inf and venir de + noun (to come from):
Je viens du jardin: I am coming from the garden.