I am getting confused with depuis, pendant and il y a. Can anybody clarify when to use which?
Thank you for using the Jiskha Homework Help Forum. A good French--->English/English--->French dictionary is invaluable.
depuis = can be an adverb meaning "since" or a preposition meaning "since, for.) It is used in expressions such as "I have been in Paris for 3 days = Je suis à Paris depuis trois jours. OR in expressions such as "from Monday to Friday" = depuis lundi jusqu'à vendredi.
Then there is the Present Tense used with "depuis" or "il y a" as in "I have been looking for him for twenth minutes = Je le cherche depuis vingt mnutes OR Il y a vingt minutes que je le cherche.
Then there is the Imperfect with "depuis" or "il y a" or the past tense of what is above. I had been looking for him for twenty minutes = Je le cherchais depuis vingt min utes OR Il y avait vingt minutes que je le cherchais. NOTE: The English can appear to be the present progressive or the past perfect, but it is neither in French!
Other Verbal Expression with duration of time, such as "He works for eight hours = Il travaille pendant huit heures. He worked (for) eight hours = Il a travaillé (pendant) huit heures.
pendant = as an adverb it means "while" in pendant que.....
or it can be a preposition = during
il y a is an impersonal expression that is either singular or plural, meaning "there is" OR "there are."
So, sometimes you can use them interchangeably, sometimes you don't need to state (pendant/pour), it might depend upon what part of speech it is (adverb or preposition) and with expressions having to do with "time" or "duration" see above.
Mme
Certainly! I'd be happy to clarify the usage of "depuis," "pendant," and "il y a." These expressions are used to indicate a duration of time, but they are used differently depending on the context. Here's how they're typically used:
1. "Depuis":
- "Depuis" is used to express the starting point of an action or event that is still ongoing in the present. It translates to "since" or "for" in English.
- To use "depuis," you need to use the verb in the present tense or the present perfect tense.
- Example: "Je travaille ici depuis un an." (I have been working here for a year.)
2. "Pendant":
- "Pendant" is used to denote a specific duration of time or an action that occurred in the past. It translates to "during" or "for" in English.
- When using "pendant," it is common to use it with the past tense or past perfect tense.
- Example: "J'ai étudié pendant trois heures hier soir." (I studied for three hours last night.)
3. "Il y a":
- "Il y a" is used to express a point in the past. It translates to "ago" in English.
- To use "il y a," you need to use the verb in the past tense or the past perfect tense.
- Example: "Je suis allé à Paris il y a deux ans." (I went to Paris two years ago.)
To remember the distinctions, keep in mind that "depuis" focuses on the present, "pendant" emphasizes a period or duration, and "il y a" refers to a specific point in the past. Practice with examples and gradually you'll gain a better understanding of their usage.