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A2 French Word Pair

Depuis vs Pendant vs Il y a: Three Ways to Say Time

depuis vs pendant vs il y a

0:58 min video · 3 sentences · 3 key words

Transcript with English

Hide the English to test yourself.
  1. Je travaille depuis huit heures.I have been working since eight o'clock.
  2. Elle a lu pendant une heure.She read for an hour.
  3. Je suis arrivée il y a deux jours.I arrived two days ago.

About this lesson

Three short scenes show how to talk about time in French: since when, for how long, and how long ago.

How to practise

  1. Before each example plays, pick the word that fits and say your answer out loud.
  2. Read the difference card, then repeat every example in the À toi · Your turn pause.
  3. At the end, check the common mistake so you never make it again.

The difference: depuis vs pendant vs il y a

  • depuis since (still true now). Action started in the past and continues now.
  • pendant for, during. Length of a finished or planned action.
  • il y a ago. Time counted back from now to a past event.

Common mistake: J'ai habité à Paris depuis deux ans. ✗ · J'habite à Paris depuis deux ans. ✓ (Depuis needs the present tense for something still going on.)

Which one fits?

Say the missing word out loud first, then open the answer.

  1. Je travaille ＿＿ huit heures.

    depuis / pendant / il y a · Still working, started at a point

    Show the answer

    Je travaille depuis huit heures.

    I have been working since eight o'clock.

  2. Elle a lu ＿＿ une heure.

    depuis / pendant / il y a · A completed length of time

    Show the answer

    Elle a lu pendant une heure.

    She read for an hour.

  3. Je suis arrivée ＿＿ deux jours.

    depuis / pendant / il y a · Counting back from now to a past event

    Show the answer

    Je suis arrivée il y a deux jours.

    I arrived two days ago.

Key words

FrenchEnglishLevel
depuissince (still true now)
pendantfor, during
il y aago

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