A2 Prepositions & Connectors 18 min read Easy

French Time Expressions: Ago vs. Since/For (Il y a vs. Depuis)

Use il y a for completed past events and depuis for actions that started in the past and continue today.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'Il y a' for a completed time in the past and 'Depuis' for actions still continuing now.

  • Il y a + duration = 'ago' (e.g., Il y a deux jours).
  • Depuis + duration/date = 'for' or 'since' (e.g., Depuis lundi).
  • Use 'Depuis' only when the action is still happening in the present.
Il y a + [Time] = Past 🏁 | Depuis + [Time] = Present ⏳

Overview

Mastering French time expressions is fundamental for precise communication about past events and their durations. Among the most pivotal, yet frequently confused, are il y a and depuis. While both relate to past time, they govern distinct temporal perspectives: il y a precisely situates a completed action in the past (akin to "ago"), whereas depuis indicates a duration or starting point for an action or state that began in the past and is still ongoing in the present (similar to "since" or "for").

This distinction is more than semantic; it fundamentally reshapes how a French speaker perceives the timeline of an event, signaling whether it is concluded or actively continuing.

In English, you differentiate these concepts using phrases like "a year ago" for a finished event, or "I have been living here for five years" for an ongoing state. French, however, employs a precise grammatical mechanism that relies on the interaction between these temporal markers and specific verb tenses. Comprehending this interplay is critical for moving beyond basic sentence structures and accurately conveying complex timelines.

The underlying linguistic principle in French emphasizes the current state of an action or condition relative to the moment of utterance: Is the temporal window closed, or does it remain open?

Confusing il y a and depuis can lead to significant miscommunication. For example, using il y a when depuis is required might imply an action has stopped when it is, in fact, continuing. Conversely, using depuis for a completed past event would be grammatically incorrect and could obscure your intended meaning.

This guide will clarify these uses, providing you with the tools to express temporal nuances with confidence.

How This Grammar Works

At its core, the choice between il y a and depuis hinges on whether the action or state described is completed and exclusively in the past, or if it began in the past and extends continuously into the present moment. This fundamental difference dictates both the selection of the expression and, crucially, the correct verb tense for the main clause.
Il y a (meaning "ago") is used to locate a completed, punctual event at a specific point in the past. It functions as a temporal anchor, projecting backward from the current moment to a finished occurrence. The action described with il y a is always concluded; you are marking a specific, elapsed point on a timeline.
For instance, if you say J'ai mangé il y a une heure. (I ate an hour ago.), the act of eating is entirely over. The temporal focus is on when the action concluded, not its duration.
Depuis (meaning "since" or "for") expresses an action or state that started in the past and remains ongoing at the time of speaking. It signifies a duration or a precise starting point from which an activity or condition has persisted. The defining characteristic here is continuity.
When you use depuis, you are indicating that the past action or state extends through the present moment. This is why depuis almost exclusively pairs with the present tense (le présent) for the main verb when describing ongoing actions. This contrasts with English, which often uses the present perfect continuous (e.g., "I have been working").
For example, J'étudie le français depuis trois mois. (I have been studying French for three months.) implies that the studying began three months ago and continues up to and including the present.
This tense pairing is linguistically sound: French lacks a direct grammatical equivalent to the English present perfect continuous. Instead, it leverages the simple present tense to denote an action that commenced previously and is still current, using depuis to supply the temporal context of its origin or cumulative duration. This creates logical consistency: the verb is in the present because the action is currently happening, having commenced at the point indicated by depuis.
The action is not merely a past event; it is a present reality rooted in the past.
Crucially, if the action expressed by the verb is not ongoing into the present, even if it has a duration, depuis is generally not appropriate with the present tense. For completed actions with duration, other constructions (like pendant) are used. Therefore, the ongoing nature of the action is the absolute key to correctly employing depuis with le présent.
| Feature | Il y a | Depuis |
| :---------------- | :--------------------------------------------- | :-------------------------------------------------- |
| Function | Marks a completed event's timing | Indicates ongoing duration/starting point |
| Verb Tense | Typically passé composé, imparfait | Always présent (for ongoing actions) |
| Translation | "ago" | "since" (with a point), "for" (with duration) |
| Action Status | Finished, over, completed, distinct past event | Started in past, continues into present |
| Temporal Focus| Point in past, distance from now | Duration or start, continuity up to now |
| Linguistic Logic| Past definite action | Present state, rooted in past, continuing |
This table illustrates the core grammatical mechanics. Misusing il y a with the present tense for an ongoing action, or conversely, using depuis with a past tense for an action still happening, are common A2-level errors that fundamentally alter your intended meaning and can lead to misunderstandings about the timing and completion of events.

Formation Pattern

1
Forming sentences with il y a and depuis follows precise and predictable structures. Understanding these patterns, especially concerning verb tense, is essential for accurate expression in French.
2
1. Expressing a Completed Action with Il y a (ago)
3
This construction places a past-tense verb, most commonly passé composé or imparfait, before il y a and the duration. In this context, il y a acts as a fixed temporal marker, distinct from its meaning of "there is/are."
4
Structure:
5
[Sujet] + [Verbe au Passé Composé/Imparfait] + il y a + [Durée de temps]
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J'ai rencontré ton frère il y a deux jours. (I met your brother two days ago.) – The meeting is a completed action.
7
Ils ont déménagé il y a un mois. (They moved out a month ago.) – Their move is finished and in the past.
8
Il faisait beau il y a une semaine. (The weather was nice a week ago.) – Here, imparfait describes a past state or condition that existed at that point in the past, now completed. Faisait denotes a general past condition, not an action that continues.
9
Notice that il y a always precedes the duration. The event itself is definitively in the past and finished. The focus is on the specific time elapsed since the completion of the action.
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2. Expressing an Ongoing Action or State with Depuis (since/for)
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Depuis is the key to indicating continuity. The main verb must be in the present tense (le présent) when the action or state is still happening at the moment of speaking. This is a crucial distinction from English sentence structure.
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Structure for Duration:
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[Sujet] + [Verbe au Présent] + depuis + [Durée de temps]
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Nous étudions le français depuis six mois. (We have been studying French for six months.) – The studying began six months ago and is still happening.
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Elle habite à Paris depuis son enfance. (She has been living in Paris since her childhood.) – She started living there in childhood and still does. Liaison: habite (silent h) à.
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Structure for Starting Point:
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[Sujet] + [Verbe au Présent] + depuis + [Point de départ dans le temps (date, moment précis)]
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Je travaille ici depuis 2023. (I have been working here since 2023.) – Work started in 2023 and is ongoing. (Pronounce deux mille vingt-trois)
19
Ils sont mariés depuis le printemps. (They have been married since spring.) – Their marriage began in spring and continues. (Pronounce mariés with liaison before le as mari-é)`.
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Important Nuance: Depuis with Passé Composé
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While depuis overwhelmingly pairs with the present tense for ongoing actions, you may encounter it with the passé composé. This occurs in two specific, higher-level contexts:
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To express an action that ceased at some point in the past after a certain duration: This is less common and often implies a change of state. For instance, J'ai habité à Lyon depuis 2010 à 2015. (I lived in Lyon from 2010 to 2015.) – Here, the duration of living in Lyon is completed, and the action is entirely in the past. Depuis marks the beginning of that past duration. This is not typically an A2 focus and pendant is often clearer for completed past durations.
23
In negative sentences, to indicate that an action has not happened since a certain point, and this state of non-action continues: Je n'ai pas vu mon frère depuis un mois. (I haven't seen my brother for a month.) – The state of "not seeing" has been true for a month and continues to be true. This uses passé composé because it describes a lack of a single event (seeing), whose absence extends into the present. This is a common and important usage, even at A2.
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3. Common Spoken Alternatives: Ça fait... que and Il y a... que
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These constructions are very frequent in informal and semi-formal spoken French, serving as direct equivalents to depuis when expressing an ongoing action or state. They emphasize the duration itself.
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Structure:
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Ça fait + [Durée de temps] + que + [Sujet] + [Verbe au Présent]
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Il y a + [Durée de temps] + que + [Sujet] + [Verbe au Présent]
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Ça fait deux heures que nous attendons. (We've been waiting for two hours.) – Exactly synonymous with Nous attendons depuis deux heures. Liaison: deux heures (silent x).
30
Il y a longtemps que je n'ai pas visité ma famille. (It's been a long time since I visited my family.) – This implies the state of not visiting is ongoing. This is a flexible alternative to Ça fait... que.
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Ça fait combien de temps que tu apprends le français ? (How long have you been learning French?) – Common question formation. (Pronounce combien de temps with en nasal).`
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These structures are particularly natural in questions asking "how long?" (Ça fait combien de temps que...? or Depuis quand...?). Remember, just like depuis, the main verb in the clause following que must be in the present tense when the action is ongoing.

When To Use It

Selecting the correct temporal expression in French depends critically on whether the action or state you are describing is a finished event in the past, or an ongoing situation that began in the past and continues into the present. Here's a breakdown of when to deploy each phrase:
Use Il y a when:
  • You want to state precisely when a single, completed event occurred in the past. The event is over, and you are indicating the time elapsed since its completion.
  • Example: J'ai acheté cette voiture il y a trois ans. (I bought this car three years ago.) – The act of buying is a single, finished past action. Liaison: trois ans (silent s, z sound).
  • You are referring to a past state or habitual action that existed at a specific point in the past but is no longer current. Though less common with il y a, imparfait can be used to describe this.
  • Example: Il était étudiant il y a dix ans. (He was a student ten years ago.) – His state of being a student is finished. (Pronounce était with silent t).
Key Decision for Il y a: The action is a closed chapter. It happened, and it is done.
Use Depuis (with le présent) when:
  • You want to express the duration of an action or state that started in the past and is still ongoing at the moment you are speaking.
  • Example: Elle étudie la médecine depuis 2024. (She has been studying medicine since 2024.) – She started in 2024 and is still studying. (Pronounce médecine as med-sin.)
  • You want to specify the starting point of such an ongoing action or state.
  • Example: Nous habitons ici depuis le mois de janvier. (We have been living here since January.) – Our residence began in January and continues now. (Pronounce mois with silent s).
  • You are expressing how long an absence or lack of an action has persisted up to the present moment, typically with a negative passé composé verb.
  • Example: Je ne l'ai pas vu depuis hier. (I haven't seen him since yesterday.) – The state of "not seeing him" started yesterday and is still true now. (Pronounce hier as ee-air.)
Key Decision for Depuis: The action or state is an open chapter, originating in the past and extending into the present.
Consider Ça fait... que or Il y a... que when:
  • You are in an informal or conversational context, as these are very natural spoken alternatives to depuis for expressing ongoing durations. They are stylistically lighter and often preferred by native speakers.
  • Example: Ça fait longtemps que tu m'attends ? (Have you been waiting for me for a long time?) – A very common way to ask this question informally. (Pronounce m'attends as mat-tahn).
Contrast with Pendant: It's crucial not to confuse depuis with pendant. Pendant is used for a completed duration in the past (e.g., J'ai étudié pendant deux heures. - I studied for two hours, and the studying is finished) or for a future duration. Depuis specifically marks an action or state that continues into the present.

Common Mistakes

Learners frequently encounter pitfalls when navigating il y a and depuis due to their subtle distinctions and differing verb tense requirements. Being aware of these common errors will help you avoid them.
1. Incorrect Verb Tense with Depuis:
This is perhaps the most prevalent error for A2 learners. Many learners, influenced by English, incorrectly use a past tense (like passé composé) with depuis for an ongoing action.
  • Incorrect: J'ai habité à Paris depuis deux ans. (Incorrect: Implies you lived there for two years and then stopped, but the structure usually implies ongoing.)
  • Correct: J'habite à Paris depuis deux ans. (I have been living in Paris for two years.) – Uses le présent because you are still living there. (Pronounce deux ans with liaison).
Why it's a mistake: French uses le présent with depuis to signal that an action or state began in the past and continues up to and including the present moment. Using passé composé indicates a completed action, which contradicts the 'ongoing' nature implied by depuis in this context.
2. Using Il y a for Ongoing Actions:
Another common error is applying il y a where depuis or ça fait... que is required, implying a completed event when the action is still in progress.
  • Incorrect: J'étudie le français il y a six mois. (Incorrect: Suggests you studied French six months ago, and finished.)
  • Correct: J'étudie le français depuis six mois. (I have been studying French for six months.)
  • Also Correct: Ça fait six mois que j'étudie le français. (It has been six months that I have been studying French.)
Why it's a mistake: Il y a marks a point in the past when an action ended. It does not imply continuity. Using it for an ongoing action fundamentally misrepresents the timeline of the event.
3. Confusing Depuis with Pendant:
While both depuis and pendant involve duration, their contexts are distinct. Pendant is used for actions that occurred for a specific duration and are now completed, or for future durations. Depuis is exclusively for actions or states that started in the past and continue into the present.
  • Incorrect: J'ai regardé la télé depuis deux heures. (Incorrect: Implies you watched TV for two hours and are still watching, which might not be true if the watching is over.)
  • Correct (if watching is over): J'ai regardé la télé pendant deux heures. (I watched TV for two hours.)
  • Correct (if still watching): Je regarde la télé depuis deux heures. (I have been watching TV for two hours.)
Why it's a mistake: This confusion demonstrates a misunderstanding of the completion aspect. Pendant defines a finite block of time, whereas depuis anchors the start of a duration that extends indefinitely into the present.
4. Forgetting que with Ça fait... que / Il y a... que:
When using the colloquial ça fait... que or il y a... que constructions, learners sometimes omit the conjunction que.
  • Incorrect: Ça fait deux ans j'habite ici.
  • Correct: Ça fait deux ans que j'habite ici. (I have been living here for two years.)
Why it's a mistake: Que is an integral part of these idiomatic structures, linking the duration phrase (ça fait deux ans) to the main clause (j'habite ici). Its omission renders the sentence grammatically incomplete.
5. Direct Translation of English "Since":
English "since" can sometimes be ambiguous regarding whether an action is ongoing or a completed event in the past. French requires you to clarify this.
  • English: "I haven't seen him since 2020." (Ongoing state of not seeing) -> Je ne l'ai pas vu depuis 2020.
  • English: "Since he left, I've been sad." (Points to a past action causing a current state) -> Depuis qu'il est parti, je suis triste. (depuis que for specific past event leading to current state).
Why it's a mistake: Relying solely on direct translation ignores the specific temporal logic embedded within French grammar. Always consider if the action continues into the present.

Real Conversations

Understanding how il y a and depuis function in everyday French conversations is essential for sounding natural. Native speakers use these expressions fluidly, often favoring the more colloquial ça fait... que for ongoing durations.

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Scenario 1

Describing a Past Event

- Friend A: Tu as vu le nouveau film de Lelouch ? (Have you seen Lelouch's new film?)

- Friend B: Oui, je l'ai vu il y a quelques jours. C'était excellent ! (Yes, I saw it a few days ago. It was excellent!) – A completed action at a specific point in the past. (Pronounce quelques jours as kell-kuh zhoor).

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Scenario 2

Asking About Ongoing Duration

- Colleague A: Depuis quand travailles-tu dans cette entreprise ? (Since when have you been working at this company?)

- Colleague B: Je travaille ici depuis cinq ans. (I've been working here for five years.) – Action started in the past, continues now. (Pronounce cinq ans with liaison).

- Colleague B (Alternative, more common in speech): Ça fait cinq ans que je travaille ici. (It's been five years that I've been working here.) – More informal and frequent spoken alternative. (Pronounce cinq ans with liaison).

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Scenario 3

Texting About Recent Events/Ongoing States

- Text 1: RDV à 18h ? (Meet at 6 PM?)

- Text 2: Désolé(e), je suis en retard. Je suis parti(e) de la maison il y a 5 minutes. (Sorry, I'm late. I left the house 5 minutes ago.) – Quick, simple, completed action. (Pronounce 5 minutes as cinq min-uut).

- Text 1: T'es où ? J'attends depuis 10 min ! (Where are you? I've been waiting for 10 min!) – Ongoing action, started 10 min ago and still waiting. (Pronounce 10 min as dix min).

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Scenario 4

Expressing a State of Non-Action

- Sibling A: Tu as parlé à Maman ? (Have you spoken to Mom?)

- Sibling B: Non, je ne lui ai pas parlé depuis la semaine dernière. (No, I haven't spoken to her since last week.) – The state of "not speaking" is ongoing since last week. (Pronounce semaine dernière as sem-men dair-nyair).

These examples highlight the natural flow of these expressions. Pay attention to the verb tense – it's the strongest indicator of whether il y a or depuis is appropriate.

Quick FAQ

Here are quick answers to some common questions regarding French time expressions il y a and depuis:
  • Q: Can depuis be used with a future tense verb?
  • A: No. Depuis inherently implies an origin in the past that continues into the present. If you want to express a duration starting now and continuing into the future, you would use phrases like pendant or pour (e.g., Je serai en vacances pendant une semaine. - I will be on vacation for a week.).
  • Q: What is the difference between depuis and pendant?
  • A: Depuis is for actions/states that began in the past and are still ongoing in the present (with le présent). Pendant is for actions that lasted for a specific, completed duration in the past (with passé composé), or for durations in the future. Think of depuis as "since/for [and continuing]" and pendant as "for [a period that finished or will finish]".
  • Q: Are Ça fait... que and Il y a... que always interchangeable with depuis?
  • A: Yes, when referring to ongoing actions or states that started in the past and continue into the present. They are idiomatic, often more informal ways of saying the same thing as depuis + présent.
  • Q: How do I express an action that started and finished in the past (e.g., "I lived there for two years")?
  • A: For a completed duration in the past, use pendant with the passé composé or imparfait: J'ai habité là-bas pendant deux ans. (I lived there for two years.) or J'y habitais pendant deux ans..
  • Q: Does il y a mean "there is/are" in this context?
  • A: No. While il y a primarily means "there is/are" in other contexts (e.g., Il y a un livre sur la table. - There is a book on the table), when followed by a duration of time, it functions as a fixed temporal expression meaning "ago." Its meaning here is entirely idiomatic and distinct.

Time Expression Structure

Expression Tense Meaning Example
Il y a
Passé Composé
Ago
Il y a 2 jours
Depuis
Présent
For/Since
Depuis 2 jours

Common Variations

Form Usage
Ça fait... que
Informal Depuis
Il y a de cela
Formal Il y a

Meanings

These expressions define the relationship between an action and the current moment in time.

1

Completed Past

Indicates a point in time before now.

“Il y a une heure.”

“Il y a trois mois.”

2

Ongoing Duration

Indicates an action started in the past and continuing now.

“Je travaille ici depuis 2010.”

“Il pleut depuis ce matin.”

Reference Table

Reference table for French Time Expressions: Ago vs. Since/For (Il y a vs. Depuis)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Il y a + [time]
Il y a 3 ans
Affirmative
Depuis + [time]
Depuis 3 ans
Negative
Il n'y a pas + [time]
Il n'y a pas 3 ans
Question
Depuis quand...?
Depuis quand travailles-tu ?
Question
Il y a combien de temps...?
Il y a combien de temps ?
Variation
Ça fait + [time] + que
Ça fait 2 ans que je vis ici

Formality Spectrum

Formal
J'attends depuis dix minutes.

J'attends depuis dix minutes. (Waiting for a friend)

Neutral
J'attends depuis dix minutes.

J'attends depuis dix minutes. (Waiting for a friend)

Informal
Ça fait dix minutes que j'attends.

Ça fait dix minutes que j'attends. (Waiting for a friend)

Slang
Ça fait dix piges que je poireaute.

Ça fait dix piges que je poireaute. (Waiting for a friend)

Time Flow

NOW

Past

  • Il y a Ago

Ongoing

  • Depuis Since/For
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Examples by Level

1

Il y a deux jours.

Two days ago.

2

J'habite ici depuis un mois.

I have lived here for a month.

3

Il y a une heure.

An hour ago.

4

Depuis lundi.

Since Monday.

1

Je travaille ici depuis trois ans.

I have been working here for three years.

2

Il est parti il y a dix minutes.

He left ten minutes ago.

3

Depuis quand habites-tu ici ?

Since when have you lived here?

4

C'est arrivé il y a longtemps.

It happened a long time ago.

1

Cela fait longtemps que je ne t'ai pas vu.

It's been a long time since I saw you.

2

Il pleut depuis ce matin sans arrêt.

It has been raining since this morning without stopping.

3

J'ai fini mon projet il y a deux jours.

I finished my project two days ago.

4

Depuis que je suis arrivé, il fait beau.

Since I arrived, the weather has been nice.

1

Il attend le bus depuis une éternité.

He has been waiting for the bus for an eternity.

2

Il y a fort à parier qu'il viendra.

It is highly likely he will come.

3

Depuis la réforme, tout a changé.

Since the reform, everything has changed.

4

Il y a de cela bien des années.

That was many years ago.

1

Depuis lors, il n'a plus jamais remis les pieds ici.

Since then, he has never set foot here again.

2

Il y a peu, nous discutions de ce sujet.

A short while ago, we were discussing this topic.

3

Depuis que je travaille, je n'ai jamais vu ça.

In all my time working, I have never seen this.

4

Il y a bien des façons de voir les choses.

There are many ways to see things.

1

Depuis toujours, il a été passionné par l'art.

He has always been passionate about art.

2

Il y a là une nuance subtile.

There is a subtle nuance there.

3

Depuis le temps qu'on se connaît, tu devrais savoir.

Given how long we've known each other, you should know.

4

Il y a de quoi s'interroger.

There is reason to wonder.

Easily Confused

French Time Expressions: Ago vs. Since/For (Il y a vs. Depuis) vs Pendant vs Depuis

Both indicate duration, but 'pendant' is for finished time.

French Time Expressions: Ago vs. Since/For (Il y a vs. Depuis) vs Il y a vs Ça fait

Both can be used for time, but 'il y a' is for the past.

French Time Expressions: Ago vs. Since/For (Il y a vs. Depuis) vs Depuis vs Pour

English 'for' translates to both.

Common Mistakes

✗

J'ai habité ici depuis 2020.

✓

J'habite ici depuis 2020.

Use present tense with depuis.
✗

Il y a deux ans, j'ai habité ici.

✓

J'ai habité ici il y a deux ans.

Il y a usually goes at the end of the phrase.
✗

Depuis deux jours, je suis allé au cinéma.

✓

Je suis allé au cinéma il y a deux jours.

Finished action requires il y a.
✗

Il y a depuis lundi.

✓

Depuis lundi.

Don't mix the two.
✗

Il y a que je t'attends.

✓

Ça fait que je t'attends.

Il y a is for past, not duration.
✗

Depuis deux heures, j'ai fini.

✓

J'ai fini il y a deux heures.

Finished action.
✗

Il y a deux heures que je travaille.

✓

Je travaille depuis deux heures.

Use depuis for duration.
✗

Depuis que je suis né, j'ai vécu ici.

✓

Je vis ici depuis ma naissance.

Avoid redundant perfect tenses.
✗

Il y a longtemps que je ne t'ai pas vu.

✓

Ça fait longtemps que je ne t'ai pas vu.

Use 'ça fait' for negative duration.
✗

Depuis quand tu es là ?

✓

Depuis quand es-tu là ?

Formal inversion.
✗

Il y a de cela, j'étais jeune.

✓

Il y a de cela, j'étais jeune (contextual).

Stylistic choice.
✗

Depuis lors, il a été malade.

✓

Depuis lors, il est malade.

Ongoing state.
✗

Il y a peu, il est venu.

✓

Il y a peu, il est venu.

Correct.
✗

Depuis le temps, il aurait dû savoir.

✓

Depuis le temps, il aurait dû savoir.

Correct.

Sentence Patterns

Je ___ depuis ___.

C'est arrivé il y a ___.

Depuis quand ___ ?

Il y a ___ que je ne t'ai pas vu.

Real World Usage

Texting constant

Tu es où ? Ça fait 10 min que j'attends !

Job Interview very common

Je travaille dans ce secteur depuis cinq ans.

Travel common

Le train est parti il y a deux minutes.

Social Media common

Depuis que je suis à Paris, je suis heureux.

Food Delivery occasional

Ma commande est arrivée il y a dix minutes.

Doctor's Office common

J'ai mal à la tête depuis ce matin.

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💡

The Present Tense Rule

Always use the present tense with 'depuis'. It feels wrong in English, but it's correct in French.
⚠️

Don't mix them

Never use 'il y a' for an action that is still happening.
🎯

Use 'Ça fait'

In casual conversation, 'ça fait' is a great alternative to 'depuis'.
💬

Be precise

French speakers value temporal accuracy. Don't be vague with your time markers.

Smart Tips

Use 'depuis' + present tense.

J'ai étudié le français depuis 2 ans. → J'étudie le français depuis 2 ans.

Use 'il y a' + time.

Je suis allé à Paris depuis 2 jours. → Je suis allé à Paris il y a 2 jours.

Use 'ça fait' instead of 'depuis'.

J'attends depuis 10 minutes. → Ça fait 10 minutes que j'attends.

Check if the action is still happening.

J'ai travaillé ici depuis 2010. → Je travaille ici depuis 2010.

Pronunciation

eel-ya-ah

Il y a

Liaison between 'Il' and 'y' is common.

duh-pwee

Depuis

The 's' is silent.

Statement

J'habite ici depuis deux ans. ↘

Finality

Question

Depuis quand habites-tu ici ? ↗

Inquiry

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Il y a is 'Ago' (ends in 'o'), Depuis is 'Since' (starts with 'S').

Visual Association

Imagine a clock stopping for 'Il y a' and a clock ticking forward for 'Depuis'.

Rhyme

Il y a is for the past, Depuis makes the present last.

Story

I arrived in Paris 'il y a' two weeks ago. I have been eating croissants 'depuis' that day. I am still here!

Word Web

Il y aDepuisTempsPasséPrésentDurée

Challenge

Write 3 sentences about your day using 'Il y a' and 3 about your life using 'depuis'.

Cultural Notes

French speakers are very precise about time. Using 'depuis' incorrectly can cause confusion about whether you are still in a location.

Quebecois often use 'ça fait' more frequently than 'depuis' in casual speech.

In some regions, 'depuis' is used with more flexibility in colloquial speech.

Il y a comes from the existential 'there is'. Depuis comes from 'de' (from) and 'puis' (then).

Conversation Starters

“

Depuis combien de temps apprends-tu le français ?

“

Il y a combien de temps as-tu mangé ?

“

Depuis quand habites-tu dans cette ville ?

“

Il y a combien de temps que tu as voyagé pour la dernière fois ?

Journal Prompts

Describe your current job using 'depuis'.
Write about your last vacation using 'il y a'.
Reflect on how your life has changed since you started learning French.
Tell a story about a surprise that happened to you recently.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank with 'Il y a' or 'Depuis'.

Je t'attends ___ 10 minutes.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Depuis
Ongoing action.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: J'ai mangé il y a 2 heures.
Finished action.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

J'ai habité ici depuis 5 ans.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: J'habite ici depuis 5 ans.
Ongoing action requires present tense.
Transform to 'depuis'. Sentence Transformation

Il est arrivé il y a 2 jours. (He is still here)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il est ici depuis 2 jours.
State of being.
Is this rule true? True False Rule

Can you use past tense with 'depuis'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Depuis requires present tense.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Depuis quand travailles-tu ici? B: ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Depuis 2010.
Since a date.
Build the sentence. Sentence Building

Order: (deux heures / je / depuis / travaille)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je travaille depuis deux heures.
Subject-Verb-Time.
Match the meaning. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il y a 2 jours - Ago
Correct mapping.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank with 'Il y a' or 'Depuis'.

Je t'attends ___ 10 minutes.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Depuis
Ongoing action.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: J'ai mangé il y a 2 heures.
Finished action.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

J'ai habité ici depuis 5 ans.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: J'habite ici depuis 5 ans.
Ongoing action requires present tense.
Transform to 'depuis'. Sentence Transformation

Il est arrivé il y a 2 jours. (He is still here)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il est ici depuis 2 jours.
State of being.
Is this rule true? True False Rule

Can you use past tense with 'depuis'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
Depuis requires present tense.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Depuis quand travailles-tu ici? B: ___

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Depuis 2010.
Since a date.
Build the sentence. Sentence Building

Order: (deux heures / je / depuis / travaille)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je travaille depuis deux heures.
Subject-Verb-Time.
Match the meaning. Match Pairs

Match the time.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il y a 2 jours - Ago
Correct mapping.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Complete the sentence. Fill in the Blank

Nous sommes arrivés ___ une heure.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: il y a
Translate into French. Translation

I have been learning French since January.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: J'apprends le français depuis janvier.
Put the words in the correct order. Sentence Reorder

mariés / depuis / ils / sont / 2010

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ils sont mariés depuis 2010.
Choose the best question for this answer: 'Je travaille ici depuis deux ans.' Multiple Choice

How do you ask about the duration?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Depuis combien de temps travailles-tu ici ?
Match the French to the English meaning. Match Pairs

Match the terms:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: il y a | ago
Correct the mistake in this sentence. Error Correction

Le film a commencé depuis dix minutes.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le film a commencé il y a dix minutes.
Fill in the blank. Fill in the Blank

___ 20 minutes que j'attends !

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ça fait
Translate into French. Translation

He left five minutes ago.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il est parti il y a cinq minutes.
Which sentence is correct for someone currently in school? Multiple Choice

Pick the right one:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je suis à l'école depuis ce matin.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

il / mangé / a / une / y / heure / a

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il a mangé il y a une heure.

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

No, 'depuis' always requires the present tense in French to show the action is still ongoing.

'Il y a' is for a point in time (ago), while 'pendant' is for the duration of a completed action.

Yes, it is primarily a temporal preposition.

It depends! Use 'depuis' for ongoing, 'pendant' for finished, and 'pour' for future.

Because the action is still happening now, so the present tense is the most logical choice.

No, 'il y a' is strictly for the past.

You can use 'longtemps' (a long time) with both.

No, it is neutral and used in all registers.

Scaffolded Practice

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Mastery Progress

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Improving

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

Desde / Hace

Spanish uses 'llevar' + gerund for duration.

German moderate

Seit / Vor

German uses dative case with 'seit'.

English partial

Ago / For / Since

English uses present perfect for ongoing actions.

Japanese low

Mae / Kara

Japanese particles follow the noun.

Arabic moderate

Mundhu / Qabla

Arabic grammar is highly inflectional.

Chinese low

Yiqian / Yilai

Chinese has no verb conjugation.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
French Time Prepositions: When vs. Duration (Dans / En)
Next
French Contractions with De: du, des

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