Time Expressions (depuis = since/for, il y a = ago / there is, pendant = for/during)

Time Expressions in French: depuis, il y a, and pendant

French uses several short expressions to talk about time. The three most important for duration and reference are:
- depuis — since / for (something started in the past and continues)
- il y a — ago (a point in the past) and also "there is/are" in the present
- pendant — for / during (a duration, usually completed or bounded)

This article explains what each one means, how to form sentences with them, how they interact with tense, and common mistakes. Lots of examples are included.

When do I use "depuis"?

Meaning and use
- "Depuis" indicates a starting point in the past and a situation that continues up to the present. In English you usually translate it as "since" (a point) or "for" (a duration), depending on the phrase.
- Use "depuis" when the action or state is still true now.

Form and common patterns
- depuis + point in time: depuis 2018, depuis lundi, depuis hier
- depuis + duration: depuis deux ans, depuis trois mois
- depuis que + clause (when you follow with a verb): depuis que tu es parti

Tense to use
- Most often, use the present tense with "depuis": the action/state started in the past and continues now.
- In a past narrative (talking about the past), use the imparfait with "depuis" to describe a continuing state in the past that was later interrupted.

Il pleut depuis ce matin.
(It has been raining since this morning.)

Elle étudie le français depuis trois mois.
(She has been studying French for three months.)

Je ne fume pas depuis janvier.
(I haven't smoked since January / for several months.)

Depuis que tu es parti, la maison est calme.
(Since you left, the house has been quiet.)

Common error and correction
- Incorrect: "J'ai habité ici depuis deux ans." (This sounds odd when you mean you still live here.)
- Correct: "J'habite ici depuis deux ans." (I have lived here for two years — and I still live here.)

When do I use "il y a"?

Primary meaning: "ago"
- "Il y a + time" usually means "... ago" and is followed by a verb in a past tense (passé composé, imparfait, etc.).
- Structure: Il y a + [time expression], + [past verb or statement].

Examples:
Je l'ai vu il y a trois jours.
(I saw him three days ago.)

Il y a deux ans, il a déménagé.
(Two years ago, he moved.)

Other uses and variations
- "Il y a" also means "there is / there are" when it describes existence in the present: Il y a un chat sur la fenêtre. (There is a cat on the windowsill.)
- To express duration up to the present in a slightly different way you can use: "Il y a + que" or "Ça fait + duration + que" — both equivalent to "depuis" in many contexts.

Examples (duration up to now):
Il y a trois ans que j'habite ici.
(= J'habite ici depuis trois ans. — I've lived here for three years.)

Ça fait deux ans que nous nous connaissons.
(We have known each other for two years.)

When do I use "pendant"?

Meaning and use
- "Pendant" expresses the length of time something lasted (a duration). It is used for completed actions or for an action that took place during a specific period.
- Translate as "for" or "during". It does not imply that the action continues to the present.

Form and patterns
- pendant + duration: pendant deux heures, pendant le week-end
- pendant que + clause = while

Typical tenses with "pendant"
- In past narratives, use passé composé or imparfait with "pendant" for a completed duration: J'ai dormi pendant huit heures.
- "Pendant" can be used with the future to talk about a planned duration: Je partirai pendant trois jours.
- "Pendant" + present is used when you mean "during (a period)" (not usually to mean continuous up to now): Pendant les vacances, je me repose.

Examples:
J'ai étudié le français pendant deux ans.
(I studied French for two years.)

Nous sommes restés à Rome pendant une semaine.
(We stayed in Rome for a week.)

Pendant que tu faisais la vaisselle, j'ai sorti la poubelle.
(While you were doing the dishes, I took out the trash.)

Je voyagerai pendant trois semaines cet été.
(I will travel for three weeks this summer.)

Compare with "depuis"
- "Il a travaillé à Londres pendant un an."
(He worked in London for one year — finished.)
- "Il travaille à Londres depuis un an."
(He has been working in London for one year — he is still there.)

How to choose among "depuis", "il y a", and "pendant"

Quick decision guide
- If the action/state started in the past and continues now: use "depuis" + present.
Example: J'habite ici depuis 2019. (I live here and still do.)
- If you want to say "... ago" (point in past): use "il y a" + past tense.
Example: Je suis arrivé il y a trois jours. (I arrived three days ago.)
- If you want to state how long something lasted (completed duration): use "pendant" + duration, usually with a past tense (or future).
Example: J'ai attendu pendant une heure. (I waited for an hour — and stopped.)

I lived here for two years (but not anymore).
→ J'ai habité ici pendant deux ans. / J'y ai habité pendant deux ans.

I arrived two years ago.
→ Je suis arrivé il y a deux ans.

I have been waiting for two hours (still waiting).
→ J'attends depuis deux heures.

I waited for two hours (and then I stopped).
→ J'ai attendu pendant deux heures.

Tense notes and special cases

1. "Depuis" in past narratives
- When you tell a story in the past and want to describe a continuing situation that existed up to another past moment, use the imparfait with "depuis":
Il habitait Marseille depuis cinq ans quand il a trouvé cet emploi.
(He had been living in Marseille for five years when he found this job.)

2. "Depuis que" + clause
- "Depuis que" is used before a clause (full verb phrase): Depuis que je travaille ici, je prends le bus.
(Since I started working here, I take the bus.)

3. "Il y a ... que" and "Ça fait ... que" as alternatives to "depuis"
- These can be used to express duration up to now and usually pair with the present tense:
Ça fait trois ans que j'apprends l'espagnol.
(= J'apprends l'espagnol depuis trois ans.)

Common mistakes to avoid

- Confusing "depuis" and "pendant":
Wrong: "J'habite ici pendant deux ans." (unless you mean it as a completed/future plan)
Right: "J'habite ici depuis deux ans." (if you still live here)
Or: "J'ai habité ici pendant deux ans." (if you lived here for two years in the past)

- Using "il y a" instead of "depuis" when you mean "for/since up to now":
Wrong: "Il y a deux ans que j'habite ici." (This is understandable but less common; prefer "Ça fait deux ans que..." or "J'habite ici depuis deux ans.")

- Using present tense with "il y a" to mean "ago": always use a past tense after "il y a" when you mean "... ago".
Wrong: "Il y a trois jours, je vais au marché."
Right: "Il y a trois jours, je suis allé au marché." (Three days ago I went to the market.)

- Forgetting that "pendant" can be used with "pendant que" (while) and is not interchangeable with "depuis":
"Pendant que tu dormais, j'ai rangé ta chambre." (While you were sleeping, I tidied your room.)
"Depuis que tu dors, la maison est silencieuse." (Since you started sleeping, the house is quiet — continuing state.)

Useful equivalents and short phrases

- Ça fait ... que ...
Ça fait deux ans que j'habite ici. (= J'habite ici depuis deux ans.)

- Voilà ... que ...
Voilà trois mois que je l'attends. (= I have been waiting for him for three months.)

- il y a ... que ...
Il y a quatre ans que je le connais. (Equivalent to "Ça fait quatre ans que...")

Glossary (simple definitions)

- Duration: length of time (two hours, three years).
- Point in time: a specific moment (2010, yesterday, last Monday).
- Present tense (présent): used in French to describe actions that continue into the present.
- Passé composé / imparfait: common past tenses. Use imparfait for ongoing past states, passé composé for completed past events.
- Clause: a group of words with a verb (e.g., "quand il est parti").

Summary — quick takeaways

- Use "depuis" for actions or states that began in the past and continue now (J'habite ici depuis 2018).
- Use "il y a" + past tense to say "ago" (Je l'ai vu il y a trois jours).
- Use "pendant" to state how long something lasted (a completed duration) or to say "during" (J'ai étudié pendant deux ans; Pendant la réunion, il est resté calme).

Keep these simple pairs in mind: "depuis" = since/for (ongoing), "il y a" = ... ago (past point), "pendant" = for/during (duration, usually completed). Practice recognizing whether the action continues to the present — that is the key to choosing correctly.