French Preposition 'Depuis': Since vs For
depuis with the present tense to describe anything you started in the past but are still doing.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'depuis' to describe an action that started in the past and is still continuing right now.
- Use 'depuis' + time duration for 'for': J'habite ici depuis deux ans (I have lived here for two years).
- Use 'depuis' + specific date/event for 'since': Je travaille ici depuis lundi (I have worked here since Monday).
- Always use the present tense in French, even if the English translation uses the present perfect continuous.
Overview
In French, the preposition depuis serves a critical function: expressing a duration of an action or state that began in the past and continues into the present moment. For A2 learners, mastering depuis is fundamental because it directly addresses how to discuss ongoing experiences, a common communication need. Unlike English, which often employs present perfect or present perfect continuous tenses ("I have been living"), French typically pairs depuis with the present tense to convey this continuity.
This construction highlights a core linguistic difference: in French, if an action or state is still true, still active, or still ongoing at the point of speaking, the present tense is the logical choice. Depuis acts as a temporal anchor, connecting a past starting point or a past duration directly to the current reality. It allows you to articulate both "since" a specific point in time and "for" a certain period, all while maintaining the focus on the present continuity.
Understanding depuis is essential for avoiding common errors that arise from direct translation from English. Its use simplifies the expression of duration in French, emphasizing the ongoing nature of events without requiring complex perfect tenses. This clear and consistent pattern makes depuis a cornerstone for discussing personal histories, current routines, and developing situations in an authentic French manner.
How This Grammar Works
depuis is its direct association with an action or state that began previously and persists without interruption until the present. When you use depuis, you are explicitly stating that the activity or condition is not finished; it is still actively occurring or still true right now. This is precisely why the French present tense (le présent) is almost universally employed with depuis for affirmative statements.J'étudie le français depuis deux ans. (I have been studying French for two years.) In this example, the act of studying French started two years ago and has not ceased; the speaker is still studying French today. If the action were completed, a different construction would be necessary. The French present tense inherently communicates that the verb's action holds true at the moment of utterance, making it the perfect partner for depuis's continuous nature.J'ai étudié le français depuis deux ans), which incorrectly implies the action of studying is finished. The passé composé marks an action as completed in the past, directly contradicting the meaning conveyed by depuis.Depuis then quantifies how long or since when this ongoing situation has been in effect. It is a linguistic shortcut that keeps communication precise and focused on the present validity of a past-initiated event.depuis an efficient and elegant tool for expressing duration in French.Formation Pattern
depuis is highly consistent, ensuring clarity in expressing ongoing actions or states. There are two primary patterns involving depuis followed by a time reference, and a third with a subordinate clause using depuis que.
Depuis + Point in Time (Since)
depuis will always be in the present tense.
Sujet + Verbe (Présent) + depuis + [Nom/Adverbe de temps précis]
Je travaille ici depuis lundi. (I have been working here since Monday.) The work started on Monday and continues.
Elle est malade depuis hier soir. (She has been sick since yesterday evening.) Her sickness began then and persists.
Nous attendons le bus depuis 8h00. (We have been waiting for the bus since 8:00 AM.) The waiting commenced at 8 AM and is still ongoing.
Depuis + Duration (For)
Sujet + Verbe (Présent) + depuis + [Durée]
Il pleut depuis trois jours. (It has been raining for three days.) The rain started three days ago and has not stopped.
Tu étudies le piano depuis cinq ans. (You have been studying piano for five years.) Your piano studies commenced five years ago and continue.
Nous habitons à Paris depuis un mois. (We have been living in Paris for a month.) Our residence in Paris began a month ago and is ongoing.
Depuis que + Subordinate Clause (Since a certain event/action)
depuis que is used. The que contracts to qu' before a vowel or mute h. The main clause verb is in the present tense, and the subordinate clause typically uses either the present tense or the passé composé, depending on the nature of the initiating event.
Sujet + Verbe (Présent) + depuis que / qu' + [Sujet + Verbe (Présent ou Passé Composé)]
Elle est plus heureuse depuis qu'elle a changé de travail. (She has been happier since she changed jobs.) The change of job is a completed past event that initiated her current state of happiness.
Je ne dors pas bien depuis que je suis stressé. (I haven't been sleeping well since I've been stressed.) Here, being stressed is an ongoing state that started earlier.
Ils vivent en Espagne depuis qu'ils ont pris leur retraite. (They have been living in Spain since they retired.) Retirement is a single past event that marked the beginning of their current residence.
depuis que clause depends on whether the initiating event is viewed as a single, completed past action (passé composé) or an ongoing state itself (présent). For A2 learners, focusing on the simple past event in passé composé for the depuis que clause is generally the most common and useful application.
Présent + depuis + [moment] | Je suis ici depuis midi. | I have been here since noon. |
Présent + depuis + [durée] | Il étudie depuis deux heures. | He has been studying for two hours. |
Présent + depuis que + [Phrase (Passé)] | Je le connais depuis qu'il est né. | I have known him since he was born. |
Présent + depuis que + [Phrase (Présent)] | Elle travaille mieux depuis qu'elle se concentre. | She has been working better since she has been focusing. |
When To Use It
Depuis is indispensable for expressing duration or a starting point of an action or state that remains true or active in the present. Its applications are broad, covering everyday conversations, professional contexts, and narrative descriptions. For an A2 learner, correctly deploying depuis significantly expands their ability to articulate experiences and timelines.depuis is your go-to preposition. It directly answers the question of "how long?" or "since when?".Nous parlons français depuis le début du cours.(We have been speaking French since the beginning of the class.) The speaking started then and continues.Ma sœur vit à Londres depuis 2020.(My sister has been living in London since 2020.) Her residency began in 2020 and is ongoing.Le téléphone sonne depuis cinq minutes.(The phone has been ringing for five minutes.) The ringing commenced five minutes ago and has not stopped.
Depuis is also fundamental in interrogative structures to inquire about the length or origin of an ongoing situation. The most common phrases are Depuis quand...? and Depuis combien de temps...?.Depuis quand étudies-tu le français ?(Since when have you been studying French?)Depuis combien de temps êtes-vous mariés ?(For how long have you been married?)Elle est partie. Depuis quand ?(She left. Since when?) –Quandcan refer to duration here implicitly.
depuis usually pairs with the present tense, it can combine with the passé composé in negative sentences. Here, it indicates that an action has not happened since a certain point, implying this non-action continues until now.Je n'ai pas mangé de chocolat depuis une semaine.(I haven't eaten chocolate for a week.) The act of not eating chocolate started a week ago and is still true.Il n'a pas vu ses parents depuis Noël.(He hasn't seen his parents since Christmas.) His absence of seeing them began at Christmas and persists.
depuis for a duration, as it describes a continuous lack of action rather than a continuous action itself. It's crucial for A2 learners to differentiate this from positive statements where the present tense is mandatory.depuis can sometimes denote origin or starting point in space, similar to "from."Je vois la mer depuis ma fenêtre.(I see the sea from my window.) – This implies a vantage point.Depuis le sommet de la montagne, la vue est magnifique.(From the top of the mountain, the view is magnificent.)
depuis's versatility. However, for A2, prioritize its temporal function. Depuis remains an invaluable tool for grounding past events in the present, enabling rich and accurate communication about duration and continuity.Common Mistakes
depuis. Recognizing these common errors and understanding their underlying causes is key to mastering the preposition.J'ai habité ici depuis deux ans. This is grammatically incorrect in French because the passé composé (j'ai habité) signifies a completed action in the past. If you say J'ai habité ici depuis deux ans, it implies you lived there for two years, but you no longer do. The action is over.Depuis explicitly signals continuity up to the present. The passé composé contradicts this by marking the action as finished. The French present tense, conversely, states that the action is currently valid. For example, J'habite ici depuis deux ans (I have been living here for two years) correctly implies current residence.Je travaille, Nous sommes, Il pleut) with depuis for actions or states that continue into the present.Depuis with Il y a:Il y a (literally "there is" or "there are") translates to "ago" and refers to a specific point in time when a past action was completed. It marks an event that is over.J'ai mangé il y a une heure.(I ate an hour ago.) – The eating is finished.Elle est arrivée il y a dix minutes.(She arrived ten minutes ago.) – Her arrival is a past, completed event.
Depuis, in contrast, denotes an action that started in the past and is still ongoing. If you say Je mange depuis une heure, it means "I have been eating for an hour" and you are still eating.Il y a = completed action at a past moment. Depuis = ongoing action since a past moment/for a duration.Depuis with Pendant:Pendant means "during" or "for" a duration, but it implies a completed period of time. The action started and finished within that duration.J'ai dormi pendant huit heures.(I slept for eight hours.) – The sleeping is finished; you are awake now.Ils ont voyagé pendant une semaine.(They traveled for a week.) – The travel period is over.
depuis in these contexts, the meaning changes drastically: Je dors depuis huit heures means "I have been sleeping for eight hours" and you are still asleep. Ils voyagent depuis une semaine means "They have been traveling for a week" and they are still traveling.Pendant = finished duration of a past action. Depuis = ongoing duration of an action continuing into the present.Pour for Past/Ongoing Duration:pour can mean "for" in English, in French, it typically expresses purpose, destination, or a future duration. It is incorrect to use pour to indicate how long something has been happening.- Correct (
pourfuture duration):Je pars pour deux semaines.(I am leaving for two weeks.) – The duration is in the future. - Incorrect (
pourpast/ongoing):Je vis ici pour deux ans.(❌) – This sounds like you are specifying the intended length of your stay, not how long you've been living there.
depuis.Depuis que Tenses:depuis que, ensure the main clause is in the present tense. The subordinate clause can be tricky:- Use _passé composé_ if the event initiating the continuous action is a single, completed past action:
Il est fatigué depuis qu'il a couru le marathon.(He has been tired since he ran the marathon.) - Use _présent_ if the state or action in the subordinate clause is also ongoing:
Elle est plus calme depuis qu'elle médite.(She has been calmer since she meditates.)
depuis que clause is crucial for accurate expression. Mastering these distinctions will significantly enhance your precision and fluency with French temporal expressions.Real Conversations
Understanding how depuis is integrated into authentic, modern French conversations is crucial for truly internalizing its use. Native speakers naturally employ depuis across various informal and formal contexts, often in concise ways.
1. Casual Dialogue / Texting: In informal settings, sentences can be shorter, and depuis is still used to quickly convey ongoing status.
- Scenario: Two friends are discussing a mutual acquaintance.
- A: Tu as des nouvelles de Marc ? Il est bizarre ces derniers temps. (Do you have news from Marc? He's been strange lately.)
- B: Oui, il est stressé depuis qu'il a eu son nouvel emploi. (Yes, he's been stressed since he got his new job.)
- Scenario: Text message about waiting.
- A: Où es-tu ? J'attends depuis 10 minutes ! (Where are you? I've been waiting for 10 minutes!)
- B: J'arrive, désolé ! (I'm coming, sorry!)
2. Social Media / Online: On platforms like Instagram or X (formerly Twitter), depuis is perfect for brief updates or descriptions.
- Instagram caption for a relationship milestone: Ensemble depuis 2018 ❤️ (Together since 2018 ❤️)
- Facebook post about a hobby: Je fais du yoga depuis 3 mois et je me sens tellement mieux ! (I've been doing yoga for 3 months and I feel so much better!)
3. Professional / Formal Contexts: While the language might be more formal, the grammatical structure with depuis remains consistent.
- Job interview: Je travaille dans le marketing depuis cinq ans. (I have been working in marketing for five years.)
- Business meeting discussion: L'entreprise a mis en œuvre cette stratégie depuis le début de l'année. (The company has implemented this strategy since the beginning of the year.)
4. Questions in Conversation: Asking about duration is a very natural use of depuis.
- Scenario: Meeting someone new at a party.
- A: Tu habites à Paris depuis longtemps ? (Have you been living in Paris for a long time?)
- B: Oui, j'y habite depuis trois ans maintenant. (Yes, I've been living there for three years now.)
- Scenario: Inquiring about a health issue.
- Depuis quand as-tu cette toux ? (Since when have you had this cough?)
- Depuis hier matin, malheureusement. (Since yesterday morning, unfortunately.)
These examples illustrate that depuis is not confined to textbooks; it is a living, breathing part of daily French communication. Paying attention to how native speakers use it in various media will significantly accelerate your ability to deploy it correctly and naturally in your own interactions.
Quick FAQ
depuis and clarify potential ambiguities.depuis be used with past tenses other than the negative passé composé?depuis in this context is its link to the present tense for ongoing actions. However, you might encounter depuis with the imparfait in narrative contexts to describe a continuous state in the past leading up to another past event.depuis always refer to time?depuis can also denote a spatial starting point, meaning "from." This is less frequent but good to recognize:On voit la ville depuis la colline.(We see the city from the hill.)Depuis ici, on entend bien la musique.(From here, we hear the music well.)
depuis specifies the origin point of observation or movement, adding another layer to its utility. For A2, focus predominantly on its temporal use.depuis change based on gender or number?depuis is an invariable preposition. This means it does not change its form to agree with the gender or number of the noun or pronoun it modifies. This simplifies its use considerably, as you don't need to worry about depuis becoming depuise or depuisent.depuis longtemps and pendant longtemps?Depuis longtempsmeans "for a long time (and still ongoing)." Example:Il est fatigué depuis longtemps.(He has been tired for a long time.)Pendant longtempsmeans "for a long time (and then it finished)." Example:Il a travaillé pendant longtemps.(He worked for a long time [and now he's finished working or has a different job]).
depuis (continuity) and pendant (completed duration).depuis?Depuis itself does not typically trigger liaison with a following vowel because it ends with an 's' that is usually silent unless followed by a vowel in specific, rare, or older phrases (e.g., depuis un certain temps, which is rare). The s is silent. However, depuis que does undergo elision: que becomes qu' before a word starting with a vowel or mute h (e.g., depuis qu'il, depuis qu'elle, depuis qu'on).depuis for ongoing actions, and recognizing its specific uses and contrasts with similar temporal expressions, you will gain confidence and accuracy in discussing duration in French. This fundamental skill is vital for progressing beyond basic sentence structures and expressing more nuanced ideas about time.Structure of 'Depuis' Sentences
| Part | Function | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Subject
|
Who
|
Je
|
|
Verb (Present)
|
Action
|
habite
|
|
Location/Object
|
Where/What
|
à Paris
|
|
Depuis
|
Connector
|
depuis
|
|
Time
|
Duration/Start
|
trois ans
|
Common Time Expressions
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
|
Depuis quand ?
|
Since when? / How long?
|
|
Depuis longtemps
|
For a long time
|
|
Depuis toujours
|
Forever / Always
|
|
Depuis peu
|
Recently
|
Meanings
A preposition used to indicate the duration of an ongoing action or the starting point of an action that continues into the present.
Duration (For)
Indicates how long an action has been occurring.
“Je t'attends depuis dix minutes.”
“Elle étudie le français depuis trois mois.”
Starting Point (Since)
Indicates the specific moment an action began.
“Je suis ici depuis 8h00.”
“Il ne mange plus depuis hier.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
S + V + depuis + Time
|
Je dors depuis 10h.
|
|
Negative
|
S + ne + V + pas + depuis + Time
|
Je ne dors pas depuis 10h.
|
|
Question
|
Depuis quand + est-ce que + S + V ?
|
Depuis quand dors-tu ?
|
|
Clause
|
Depuis que + S + V (Past), S + V (Present)
|
Depuis que je suis ici, je travaille.
|
|
Emphasis
|
Depuis + Time, S + V
|
Depuis deux ans, je travaille.
|
|
Duration
|
Depuis + Duration
|
Il pleut depuis deux jours.
|
Formality Spectrum
Je vous attends depuis une heure. (Waiting for someone)
J'attends depuis une heure. (Waiting for someone)
Ça fait une heure que j'attends. (Waiting for someone)
Ça fait une plombe que je poireaute. (Waiting for someone)
The Depuis Timeline
Past
- Start point Since 8am
Duration
- Ongoing For 2 hours
Examples by Level
J'habite ici depuis deux mois.
I have lived here for two months.
Il travaille depuis 9h00.
He has been working since 9:00.
Je suis fatigué depuis hier.
I have been tired since yesterday.
Nous attendons depuis longtemps.
We have been waiting for a long time.
Depuis quand étudies-tu le français ?
How long have you been studying French?
Je ne mange pas depuis ce matin.
I haven't eaten since this morning.
Depuis mon arrivée, il pleut.
Since my arrival, it has been raining.
Elle ne sort plus depuis sa maladie.
She hasn't gone out since her illness.
Depuis que je vis ici, je suis plus calme.
Since I have lived here, I am calmer.
Ça fait deux ans que je travaille ici.
I have been working here for two years.
Il ne m'a pas appelé depuis la semaine dernière.
He hasn't called me since last week.
Depuis quand est-ce que vous vous connaissez ?
How long have you known each other?
Il est en France depuis trois ans, mais il ne parle pas encore bien.
He has been in France for three years, but he doesn't speak well yet.
Depuis le début de l'année, les prix ont augmenté.
Since the beginning of the year, prices have increased.
Je n'ai pas vu ce film depuis mon enfance.
I haven't seen this movie since my childhood.
Depuis qu'il a changé de travail, il est très occupé.
Since he changed jobs, he is very busy.
Depuis toujours, cette famille habite dans ce village.
This family has lived in this village forever.
Depuis lors, rien n'a changé dans cette ville.
Since then, nothing has changed in this city.
Il attendait depuis des heures quand je suis arrivé.
He had been waiting for hours when I arrived.
Depuis peu, il s'intéresse à la peinture.
Recently, he has become interested in painting.
Depuis belle lurette, nous n'avions pas vu un tel spectacle.
We hadn't seen such a show in ages.
Depuis que le décret est entré en vigueur, tout a été modifié.
Since the decree came into force, everything has been modified.
Il n'a de cesse de travailler depuis l'aube.
He hasn't stopped working since dawn.
Depuis un siècle, cette institution demeure inchangée.
For a century, this institution has remained unchanged.
Easily Confused
Both translate to 'for' in English, but they describe different temporal states.
Learners use 'pour' for duration because it sounds like 'for'.
Both relate to time, but 'il y a' is for a point in the past.
Common Mistakes
J'ai habité ici depuis 2 ans.
J'habite ici depuis 2 ans.
Je travaille depuis 2 heures.
Je travaille depuis 2 heures.
Depuis 2 ans je suis ici.
J'habite ici depuis 2 ans.
Je suis ici pour 2 ans.
Je suis ici depuis 2 ans.
Depuis quand tu travailles ?
Depuis quand travailles-tu ?
Je ne travaille depuis lundi.
Je ne travaille pas depuis lundi.
Depuis que je suis arrivé, j'ai mangé.
Depuis que je suis arrivé, je mange.
Ça fait 2 ans que j'ai habité ici.
Ça fait 2 ans que j'habite ici.
Il pleut pendant 3 jours.
Il pleut depuis 3 jours.
Depuis quand est-ce que tu es ici ?
Depuis quand es-tu ici ?
Depuis lors, il a changé.
Depuis lors, il change.
Il attendait depuis 2 heures quand je suis venu.
Il attendait depuis 2 heures quand je suis venu.
Depuis peu, il est parti.
Depuis peu, il est là.
Sentence Patterns
J'___ depuis ___.
Depuis quand ___ ?
Depuis que je ___, je ___.
Cela fait ___ que je ___.
Real World Usage
Je suis fan de ce groupe depuis 2010 !
Je t'attends depuis 10 min !
Je travaille dans ce secteur depuis 5 ans.
Il pleut depuis notre arrivée.
J'attends ma commande depuis une heure.
J'ai mal depuis hier.
The 'Still True' Test
depuis and the Present Tense in French.English Interference
Business History
Depuis [Year] on shop signs, wine labels, and company logos. It's the standard way to show a long-standing tradition.Smart Tips
Check if you can say 'I am still doing it'. If yes, use 'depuis'.
Always start with 'Depuis quand' to sound natural.
Don't forget the 'pas' after the verb.
Ensure the verb in the 'que' clause is in the past.
Pronunciation
Liaison
The 's' in 'depuis' is silent unless followed by a vowel, but it is rarely linked.
Question
Depuis quand ↗ ?
Rising intonation for questions.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
DEPUIS: Does Everything Past Until In Sight.
Visual Association
Imagine a long rope tied to a clock in the past and wrapped around your waist today. You are still pulling that rope!
Rhyme
If it started in the past and is still true, use 'depuis' and the present, it's what you must do.
Story
Marie moved to Paris in 2020. She still lives there. She says: 'J'habite à Paris depuis 2020.' Her friend asks: 'Depuis quand ?' She replies: 'Depuis trois ans.'
Word Web
Challenge
Write 5 sentences about things you have been doing today using 'depuis'.
Cultural Notes
French people are very precise about time. Using 'depuis' correctly shows you understand the continuity of an event.
In Quebec, 'ça fait... que' is extremely common in spoken language.
Similar to France, but 'depuis' is often used in formal business contexts.
Composed of 'de' (from) and 'puis' (then/after).
Conversation Starters
Depuis quand habites-tu ici ?
Depuis quand étudies-tu le français ?
Depuis quand travailles-tu dans cette entreprise ?
Depuis quand connais-tu ton meilleur ami ?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
J'habite ici ___ deux ans.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
J'ai attendu depuis une heure.
Je travaille depuis lundi.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
depuis / je / deux ans / habite / ici
Il est malade ___ hier.
___ quand est-ce que tu es ici ?
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesJ'habite ici ___ deux ans.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
J'ai attendu depuis une heure.
Je travaille depuis lundi.
For 2 years
depuis / je / deux ans / habite / ici
Il est malade ___ hier.
___ quand est-ce que tu es ici ?
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesNous sommes amis ___ l'école primaire.
depuis / j' / attends / une / heure
I have been waiting for 10 minutes.
___ quand est-ce que tu habites à Paris ?
Je connais Marc pendant deux ans.
Match the terms:
Il ne pleut pas ___ une semaine.
depuis / hier / malade / Elle / est
Which sentence means 'I lived in Paris for 2 years (but I don't now)'?
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
No, only if the action is finished, but then you should use 'pendant'. 'Depuis' implies continuity.
'Depuis' is for ongoing actions, 'pendant' is for completed ones.
Use 'Depuis quand...?' or 'Depuis combien de temps...?'
No, use 'pour' or 'dans' for future durations.
Yes, use 'depuis que' + clause.
Because in French, if it's still happening, it's present tense.
No, it's neutral and used in all registers.
Use 'Je fais X depuis 2 ans'.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
desde hace
Spanish uses 'desde' for starting points, similar to French.
seit
Grammatically identical to French structure.
for/since
English uses present perfect; French uses present.
kara / zutto
Japanese structure is entirely different.
mundhu
Arabic syntax is VSO/SVO.
yizhizai
No verb conjugation.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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