Catalan B1: Perfet perifràstic or imperfet? · Grammar

In a story, the perfet perifràstic (anar + infinitive: vaig arribar, va trucar) moves the action forward with finished events. The imperfet paints the background: the scene, habits, what was going on (plovia, estava cansat). Together: Dormia quan va sonar el telèfon. With avui or aquest matí, Catalan uses the perfet: Avui he treballat molt.

• de sobte — suddenly
• primer — first
• després — then, afterwards
• al final — in the end
• aquell dia — that day
• ahir a la nit — last night
• passar — to happen
• explicar — to tell, to explain

• Què va passar? — What happened?
• Plovia quan vaig sortir de casa. — It was raining when I left home.
• Primer vam dinar i després vam anar al museu. — First we had lunch and then we went to the museum.
• No sabia que eres aquí. — I didn’t know you were here.