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pour",null,{"type":48,"value":49,"toc":601},"minimark",[50,55,68,96,101,111,118,143,150,160,182,185,189,206,220,227,231,245,264,273,283,287,300,318,328,332,342,361,382,386,474,493,497,541,545,575,579],[51,52,54],"h1",{"id":53},"french-time-expressions-depuis-pendant-il-y-a-pour","French Time Expressions: depuis, pendant, il y a, pour",[56,57,58,59,63,64,67],"p",{},"Four words do most of the work of expressing time in French: ",[60,61,62],"strong",{},"depuis, pendant, il y a, pour",". They look similar in English glosses - \"for\", \"since\", \"ago\" - but they are not interchangeable. The key is what each one does to the ",[60,65,66],{},"tense"," of the verb.",[69,70,71,78,84,90],"ul",{},[72,73,74,77],"li",{},[60,75,76],{},"J'habite ici depuis 2015."," (I have lived here since 2015 - still living here.)",[72,79,80,83],{},[60,81,82],{},"J'ai travaille pendant deux heures."," (I worked for two hours - finished.)",[72,85,86,89],{},[60,87,88],{},"Il est parti il y a deux jours."," (He left two days ago.)",[72,91,92,95],{},[60,93,94],{},"Je pars pour une semaine."," (I'm leaving for a week - planned ahead.)",[97,98,100],"h2",{"id":99},"depuis-since-or-for-with-the-present","depuis: \"since\" or \"for\", with the present",[56,102,103,106,107,110],{},[60,104,105],{},"Depuis"," marks an action that started in the past and is ",[60,108,109],{},"still going on",". It translates as \"since\" (a start point) or \"for\" (a duration).",[56,112,113,114,117],{},"The trap: ",[60,115,116],{},"depuis takes the present tense"," where English uses the perfect (\"have lived\", \"have been learning\"). The action is still happening, and French treats that as a present fact.",[69,119,120,125,131,137],{},[72,121,122,124],{},[60,123,76],{}," (I have lived here since 2015.)",[72,126,127,130],{},[60,128,129],{},"J'apprends le francais depuis trois ans."," (I have been learning French for three years.)",[72,132,133,136],{},[60,134,135],{},"Elle travaille dans cette entreprise depuis janvier."," (She has worked at this company since January.)",[72,138,139,142],{},[60,140,141],{},"Nous attendons depuis vingt minutes."," (We have been waiting for twenty minutes.)",[56,144,145,146,149],{},"In every one of those, the English verb is a perfect (\"have lived\", \"have been learning\") and the French verb is a plain ",[60,147,148],{},"present"," (habite, apprends, travaille, attendons). The action runs up to now, so French keeps it present.",[56,151,152,155,156,159],{},[60,153,154],{},"Since"," versus ",[60,157,158],{},"for"," is just a question of what follows depuis:",[69,161,162,173],{},[72,163,164,165,168,169,172],{},"A ",[60,166,167],{},"point in time"," (a year, a date, an event) = \"since\": ",[60,170,171],{},"depuis 2015, depuis janvier, depuis mon arrivee",".",[72,174,164,175,178,179,172],{},[60,176,177],{},"duration"," (a number of years, hours, days) = \"for\": ",[60,180,181],{},"depuis trois ans, depuis vingt minutes",[56,183,184],{},"The verb tense does not change between the two; only the English translation does.",[97,186,188],{"id":187},"depuis-with-the-imperfect-had-been-doing","depuis with the imperfect: \"had been doing\"",[56,190,191,192,195,196,201,202,205],{},"Shift the whole situation into the past and ",[60,193,194],{},"depuis"," pairs with the ",[197,198,200],"a",{"href":199},"\u002Ffrench\u002Fgrammar\u002Fimparfait","imparfait"," instead of the present. This describes something that ",[60,203,204],{},"had been"," going on for a stretch when something else happened.",[69,207,208,214],{},[72,209,210,213],{},[60,211,212],{},"J'attendais depuis une heure quand il est arrive."," (I had been waiting for an hour when he arrived.)",[72,215,216,219],{},[60,217,218],{},"Elle habitait a Paris depuis cinq ans quand elle a demenage."," (She had been living in Paris for five years when she moved.)",[56,221,222,223,226],{},"The logic mirrors the present-tense rule. With the present, depuis means \"have been doing (and still am)\". With the imperfect, it means \"had been doing (up to that past moment)\". Either way, the verb is ",[60,224,225],{},"not"," a completed past tense - it's the ongoing one.",[97,228,230],{"id":229},"pendant-for-or-during-a-bounded-duration","pendant: \"for\" or \"during\" a bounded duration",[56,232,233,236,237,240,241,172],{},[60,234,235],{},"Pendant"," measures a ",[60,238,239],{},"finished, bounded"," stretch of time. The action has a clear start and end, and is usually reported in the ",[197,242,244],{"href":243},"\u002Ffrench\u002Fgrammar\u002Fpasse-compose","passe compose",[69,246,247,252,258],{},[72,248,249,251],{},[60,250,82],{}," (I worked for two hours.)",[72,253,254,257],{},[60,255,256],{},"Il a vecu en Espagne pendant dix ans."," (He lived in Spain for ten years - and no longer does.)",[72,259,260,263],{},[60,261,262],{},"Pendant les vacances, nous avons visite trois pays."," (During the holidays, we visited three countries.)",[56,265,266,267,269,270,272],{},"The contrast with depuis is the whole point. ",[60,268,105],{}," = still going on (present). ",[60,271,235],{}," = over and done (passe compose). \"J'habite ici depuis dix ans\" means you still live here; \"j'ai habite ici pendant dix ans\" means you have since moved on.",[56,274,275,276,279,280,172],{},"Pendant can often be dropped before a duration with no change of meaning: ",[60,277,278],{},"j'ai travaille deux heures"," is as natural as ",[60,281,282],{},"j'ai travaille pendant deux heures",[97,284,286],{"id":285},"il-y-a-ago","il y a: \"ago\"",[56,288,289,290,293,294,297,298,172],{},"When ",[60,291,292],{},"il y a"," is followed by a length of time, it means \"",[60,295,296],{},"ago","\" - it pins an event to a point in the past, measured back from now. The verb is normally in the ",[197,299,244],{"href":243},[69,301,302,306,312],{},[72,303,304,89],{},[60,305,88],{},[72,307,308,311],{},[60,309,310],{},"J'ai fini il y a cinq minutes."," (I finished five minutes ago.)",[72,313,314,317],{},[60,315,316],{},"Nous avons demenage il y a un an."," (We moved a year ago.)",[56,319,320,321,323,324,327],{},"Do not confuse this with the other ",[60,322,292],{},", which means \"there is \u002F there are\" (il y a un probleme = there is a problem). It's the ",[60,325,326],{},"il y a + duration"," combination that means \"ago\".",[97,329,331],{"id":330},"pour-for-a-planned-future-duration","pour: \"for\" a planned future duration",[56,333,334,337,338,341],{},[60,335,336],{},"Pour"," expresses a duration that is ",[60,339,340],{},"planned or intended",", usually looking forward. You set out to spend a certain amount of time.",[69,343,344,349,355],{},[72,345,346,348],{},[60,347,94],{}," (I'm leaving for a week.)",[72,350,351,354],{},[60,352,353],{},"Elle est en France pour trois mois."," (She is in France for three months.)",[72,356,357,360],{},[60,358,359],{},"Nous sommes ici pour le week-end."," (We are here for the weekend.)",[56,362,363,364,367,368,371,372,375,376,378,379,381],{},"The catch for English speakers: ",[60,365,366],{},"pour"," is for an ",[60,369,370],{},"intended"," duration, not the actual elapsed one. To say how long an action actually lasted, use ",[60,373,374],{},"pendant",", not pour. \"J'ai travaille pour deux heures\" is wrong for \"I worked for two hours\" - that's ",[60,377,374],{},". Save ",[60,380,366],{}," for the planned stretch ahead.",[97,383,385],{"id":384},"the-four-side-by-side","The four side by side",[387,388,389,411],"table",{},[390,391,392],"thead",{},[393,394,395,399,402,405,408],"tr",{},[396,397,398],"th",{},"Word",[396,400,401],{},"English",[396,403,404],{},"What it marks",[396,406,407],{},"Typical tense",[396,409,410],{},"Example",[412,413,414,431,445,459],"tbody",{},[393,415,416,419,422,425,428],{},[417,418,194],"td",{},[417,420,421],{},"since \u002F for",[417,423,424],{},"action still going on now",[417,426,427],{},"present (or imperfect)",[417,429,430],{},"j'habite ici depuis 2015",[393,432,433,435,438,441,443],{},[417,434,374],{},[417,436,437],{},"for \u002F during",[417,439,440],{},"a finished, bounded duration",[417,442,244],{},[417,444,282],{},[393,446,447,449,451,454,456],{},[417,448,292],{},[417,450,296],{},[417,452,453],{},"a point in the past, measured from now",[417,455,244],{},[417,457,458],{},"il est parti il y a deux jours",[393,460,461,463,465,468,471],{},[417,462,366],{},[417,464,158],{},[417,466,467],{},"a planned \u002F intended future duration",[417,469,470],{},"present \u002F future",[417,472,473],{},"je pars pour une semaine",[56,475,476,477,480,481,484,485,488,489,492],{},"Read the table by the middle column. Is the action ",[60,478,479],{},"still going"," (depuis), ",[60,482,483],{},"finished and bounded"," (pendant), ",[60,486,487],{},"a point back in time"," (il y a), or ",[60,490,491],{},"planned ahead"," (pour)? That choice decides the word and drags the tense along with it.",[97,494,496],{"id":495},"worked-examples","Worked examples",[69,498,499,505,511,517,523,529,535],{},[72,500,501,504],{},[60,502,503],{},"Je connais Marie depuis l'ecole primaire."," (I have known Marie since primary school.)",[72,506,507,510],{},[60,508,509],{},"Tu apprends le piano depuis combien de temps?"," (How long have you been learning the piano?)",[72,512,513,516],{},[60,514,515],{},"Il a plu pendant toute la nuit."," (It rained the whole night.)",[72,518,519,522],{},[60,520,521],{},"Nous avons attendu le train pendant une heure."," (We waited for the train for an hour.)",[72,524,525,528],{},[60,526,527],{},"J'ai recu ton message il y a une heure."," (I received your message an hour ago.)",[72,530,531,534],{},[60,532,533],{},"Ils sont partis en vacances pour deux semaines."," (They have gone on holiday for two weeks.)",[72,536,537,540],{},[60,538,539],{},"Elle dansait depuis l'enfance quand elle a eu son accident."," (She had been dancing since childhood when she had her accident.)",[97,542,544],{"id":543},"common-mistakes-english-speakers-make","Common mistakes English speakers make",[56,546,547,548,551,552,554,555,557,558,561,562,565,566,568,569,571,572,574],{},"Translating \"have lived \u002F have been doing\" with a French perfect after depuis: ",[60,549,550],{},"j'ai habite ici depuis 2015"," is wrong, because the action is still going on, so it stays present - ",[60,553,430],{},". Using ",[60,556,366],{}," for an actual elapsed duration: ",[60,559,560],{},"j'ai travaille pour deux heures"," should be ",[60,563,564],{},"pendant deux heures"," - pour is only for the planned future stretch. Reaching for ",[60,567,374],{}," when the action continues to now: a still-running situation wants ",[60,570,194],{},", not pendant. And missing that ",[60,573,292],{}," flips between \"there is\" and \"ago\" depending on whether a duration follows it.",[97,576,578],{"id":577},"see-also","See also",[69,580,581,588,595],{},[72,582,583,584,587],{},"The ",[197,585,586],{"href":243},"passe compose page"," covers the past tense that pendant and il y a lean on.",[72,589,583,590,594],{},[197,591,593],{"href":592},"\u002Ffrench\u002Fgrammar\u002Fvenir-de-recent-past","venir de page"," covers the recent past, another spot where French uses a tense English speakers do not expect.",[72,596,583,597,600],{},[197,598,599],{"href":199},"imparfait page"," covers the past tense depuis takes for \"had been doing\" narration.",{"title":602,"searchDepth":603,"depth":603,"links":604},"",2,[605,606,607,608,609,610,611,612,613],{"id":99,"depth":603,"text":100},{"id":187,"depth":603,"text":188},{"id":229,"depth":603,"text":230},{"id":285,"depth":603,"text":286},{"id":330,"depth":603,"text":331},{"id":384,"depth":603,"text":385},{"id":495,"depth":603,"text":496},{"id":543,"depth":603,"text":544},{"id":577,"depth":603,"text":578},"B1-B2","French time expressions depuis (since \u002F for, with the present), pendant (for \u002F during a bounded duration), il y a (ago) and pour (for a planned future stretch). The depuis present-tense trap, depuis with the imperfect, and a crisp comparison table.","md",[618,621],{"q":619,"a":620},"Why does depuis use the present tense in French?","Because depuis describes an action that started in the past and is still going on now - and French sees that as a present-tense fact. J'apprends le francais depuis trois ans means 'I have been learning French for three years', but the verb apprends is present, because you are still learning right now. English reaches for the perfect ('have been learning'); French keeps it present because the action is ongoing. This is the single biggest trap with depuis: never put the verb in the passe compose when the action is still continuing.",{"q":622,"a":623},"What is the difference between depuis, pendant and il y a?","Depuis = 'since \u002F for' an action still going on, with the present tense (j'habite ici depuis 2015 = I have lived here since 2015). Pendant = 'for \u002F during' a finished, bounded stretch of time, usually with the passe compose (j'ai travaille pendant deux heures = I worked for two hours). Il y a = 'ago', marking a point in the past (il est parti il y a deux jours = he left two days ago). Depuis is ongoing, pendant is bounded, il y a is a point back in time.","higher","Four little words carry most of French time: depuis, pendant, il y a and pour. They are not interchangeable, and the trap is depuis - it means 'since' or 'for' an action still going on, and it takes the PRESENT tense where English uses the perfect. J'habite ici depuis 2015 is 'I have lived here since 2015'. This page sorts the four out, drills the depuis tense rule, and lays the contrast in a table.","french",{},"\u002Ffrench\u002Fgrammar\u002Ftime-expressions-depuis",{"title":45,"description":615},"french\u002Fgrammar\u002Ftime-expressions-depuis","6fyKnVR1U6ekzk3CnWNqrX5UKIA94ytMcoOHT5DV4Ac",[],{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":634},"\u003Cg fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\">\u003Cpath d=\"M12 15V3m9 12v4a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H5a2 2 0 0 1-2-2v-4\"\u002F>\u003Cpath d=\"m7 10l5 5l5-5\"\u002F>\u003C\u002Fg>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":636},"\u003Cpath fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\" d=\"M13 21h8M15 5l4 4m2.174-2.188a1 1 0 0 0-3.986-3.987L3.842 16.174a2 2 0 0 0-.5.83l-1.321 4.352a.5.5 0 0 0 .623.622l4.353-1.32a2 2 0 0 0 .83-.497z\"\u002F>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":638},"\u003Cg fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\">\u003Crect width=\"18\" height=\"18\" x=\"3\" y=\"3\" rx=\"2\" ry=\"2\"\u002F>\u003Ccircle cx=\"9\" cy=\"9\" r=\"2\"\u002F>\u003Cpath d=\"m21 15l-3.086-3.086a2 2 0 0 0-2.828 0L6 21\"\u002F>\u003C\u002Fg>",{"left":4,"top":4,"width":5,"height":5,"rotate":4,"vFlip":6,"hFlip":6,"body":640},"\u003Cg fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" stroke-width=\"2\">\u003Cpath d=\"M6 22a2 2 0 0 1-2-2V4a2 2 0 0 1 2-2h8a2.4 2.4 0 0 1 1.704.706l3.588 3.588A2.4 2.4 0 0 1 20 8v12a2 2 0 0 1-2 2z\"\u002F>\u003Cpath d=\"M14 2v5a1 1 0 0 0 1 1h5M10 9H8m8 4H8m8 4H8\"\u002F>\u003C\u002Fg>",1]