How do I know whether to use 'depuis' or 'pendant'?
In French, both “depuis” and “pendant” can be used to indicate duration, but they are used in different contexts.
“Depuis” is used to indicate the starting point of an action or event that is still ongoing. It is used with the present tense to describe actions or events that started in the past and continue to the present. For example:
- Je travaille ici depuis trois ans. (I have been working here for three years.)
- Nous sommes amis depuis l’enfance. (We have been friends since childhood.)
“Pendant” is used to indicate a specific duration of time in the past or present. It is often used with the past tense to describe a specific action or event that took place during a certain period of time. For example:
- J’ai travaillé pendant trois heures hier soir. (I worked for three hours last night.)
- Nous avons visité Paris pendant une semaine l’été dernier. (We visited Paris for a week last summer.)
In summary, use “depuis” to describe an action or event that started in the past and continues to the present, and use “pendant” to describe a specific duration of time in the past or present.
‘Depuis’ and ‘pendant’ are both French words that express the idea of duration, but they are used differently. ‘Depuis’ is used to indicate the starting point of an action or event that continues to the present, while ‘pendant’ is used to indicate the entire duration of an action or event.
‘Depuis’ is used to indicate the starting point of an action or event that continues to the present. For example, “Je travaille ici depuis deux ans” (I have been working here for two years). Use ‘depuis’ when referring to an action or event that started in the past and is still ongoing.
‘Pendant’ is used to indicate the entire duration of an action or event. For example, “J’ai étudié pendant deux heures” (I studied for two hours). Use ‘pendant’ when referring to an action or event that took place in the past and has now ended.
No, ‘depuis’ and ‘pendant’ cannot be used interchangeably. They have different meanings and are used in different contexts. Using the wrong word can lead to confusion and inaccuracies in meaning.
Yes, other French words that express duration include ‘il y a’ (ago), ‘dès’ (as of), and ‘en’ (in). Each of these words has a specific usage and meaning, so it’s important to use the correct word for the intended meaning.
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