Spot the mistake: depuis, pendant or il y a?
J'habite ici pendant trois ans? Je l'ai vu depuis une semaine? Tap the wrong time word in eight sentences: depuis, pendant, il y a and pour.
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In short
Depuis + present = something started in the past and is still going (j'habite ici depuis trois ans). Pendant = a duration that's finished or limited (j'ai vécu à Lyon pendant deux ans). Il y a = ago (je l'ai vu il y a une semaine). Pour = a planned duration (je pars pour deux semaines).
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Tap the word that's wrong in each sentence.
I've lived here for three years.
Still true now: depuis + present.
I lived in Lyon for two years, then I left.
Finished duration: pendant.
I saw him a week ago.
A point in the past: il y a = ago.
She's been learning French for six months.
Started and still going: depuis.
We waited for an hour, then we left.
A finished wait: pendant.
The train arrived five minutes ago.
Ago: il y a cinq minutes.
I've worked here since 2019.
Since a date: depuis 2019.
I'm going to Italy for two weeks in August.
Planned duration: pour deux semaines.
What is the difference between depuis, pendant and il y a?
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| depuis | since / for (still true) | Je suis là depuis midi. |
| pendant | for / during (finished) | J'ai dormi pendant huit heures. |
| il y a | ago | Il est parti il y a dix minutes. |
| pour | for (planned) | Je pars pour un mois. |
The biggest trap for English speakers: "I have lived here for three years" uses a perfect tense in English but the present in French: j'habite ici depuis trois ans. Ask: is it still true? Then use depuis + present.
- Voisin
Vous habitez ici depuis longtemps ?
Have you lived here long?
- Toi
Depuis un an. Avant, j'ai vécu à Marseille pendant cinq ans.
For a year. Before that, I lived in Marseille for five years.
- Voisin
Nous, on est arrivés il y a deux semaines.
We arrived two weeks ago.