Depuis, pendant and pour

Kurz erklärt

French uses different words for durations depending on whether an action is still continuing, completed, or planned. Depuis marks a situation that began in the past and continues now. Unlike English, French normally uses the present tense in this pattern. Pendant describes the duration of a completed event or a clearly limited period. Pour often introduces an intended or planned duration, especially with verbs such as partir, venir, or louer.

Bildung

depuis + starting point or duration; pendant + limited duration; pour + planned duration

Verwendung

• Use depuis with a starting point or length of time when the situation still continues.
• Use pendant for the full duration of a completed action or a limited event.
• Use pour when stating how long something is intended or arranged to last.

Beispiele

• J’habite à Lyon depuis deux ans. — I have lived in Lyon for two years.
• Elle travaille ici depuis lundi. — She has been working here since Monday.
• Nous avons parlé pendant une heure. — We talked for an hour.
• Ils partent à Paris pour trois jours. — They are going to Paris for three days.

Typischer Fehler

❌ J’habite ici pour trois ans.

✅ J’habite ici depuis trois ans.

English for does not always translate as pour. Because the speaker still lives here, use depuis with the present tense.

Merke

If it started before and is still true now, use depuis. For in English may correspond to depuis, pendant, or pour.