do you know the difference between depuis, pendant, and pour? please help! thank you :)
I know that this is extremely late!
Pendant que is a conjunction that indicates that one action is occurring simultaneously with another action.
Va acheter le pain pendant que je fais la queue à la boucherie !
Go buy the bread (simultaneous action) while I queue at the butcher’s (other simultaneous action).
Depuis que expresses the starting point of an action that is continuing. The verb in the subordinate clause can express either an action that is occurring simultaneously or that occurred in the past.
Depuis qu’il prend ce médicament, François n’a plus d’allergie au pollen.
Since he started taking this medication, François stopped being allergic to pollen. (Even though it seems simultaneous, I would say that this sentence indicates something happening in the past)
Depuis qu’elle sort avec Joseph, Alice est beaucoup plus souriante.
Since she has been going out with Joseph, Alice is a lot more smiley.
(This sentence is more simultaneous)
This is a preposition that indicates the beginning of an action that is continuing in the present or the past.
With a verb in the present or the imperfect tense-
E.g. Vous attendez depuis longtemps ? Non, depuis cinq minutes seulement !
Have you been waiting long? No, only for five minutes.
Il neigeait depuis plus de trois jours et toutes les routes étaient bloquées.
With a composed past verb (passé composé) or a verb in the pluperfect tense:
(Verbs that use the auxiliary verb être:)
Est-ce que je peux parler à Paul ? Non, désolé, il est parti depuis une demi-heure.
Can I talk to Paul? No sorry, he left half an hour ago.
Les élèves étaient arrivés depuis une semaine en classe de nature quand il a enfin cessé de pleuvoir. (Ils étaient là depuis une semaine)
The students had been there for a week in nature class when it finally stopped raining.
(Verbs that use avoir as the auxiliary verb:)
When depuis is used with the auxiliary verb avoir, avoir is used in the negative form or it indicates progression (grandir/augmenter/progresser/grossir etc.) or change (commencer/finir/quitter/disparaître etc.)
Il n’a pas fait de ski depuis trois ans.
He hasn’t gone skiing in three years.
Elle n’avait pas dormi depuis deux jours et elle était très fatiguée.
She hadn’t slept for two days and she was very tired.
To express change or progression:
Il avait beaucoup vieilli depuis sa maladie.
He had aged a lot since his illness.
Elle a abandonné l’étude du violon depuis deux ans.
She gave up the violin two years ago.
Pour means ‘for’, it can expression cause, destination, goal, length of time, for someone, to approve of something.
le musée est fermé pour travaux (’travaux’ is the cause introduced by ‘pour’) - the museum is closed for works (construction/renovation)
Je pars pour Paris - I’m leaving for Paris
Je travaille pour un examen - I’m working/studying for an exam (to pass it)
Je serai là pour huit jours - I will be here for eight days
J’ai des cadeaux pour des amis - I have presents for friends
To approve of sth (to be all for sth):
Je suis pour le travail à temps partiel - I am for part time work
(most examples from Nouvelle Grammaire du Français)
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