How To Use The French Preposition Depuis
Mastering French prepositions can be one of the trickiest parts of learning the language, and the French preposition depuis is no exception. If you’ve ever felt confused about when and how to use “depuis,” you’re not alone. The good news is that with clear explanations, useful examples, and a little practice, you can feel confident using “depuis” like a pro. In this lesson, we’ll break it all down: what “depuis” means, when to use it, and how it can change depending on the tense of the verb. You can download a PDF of this lesson guide in my private French Grammar Library.
French Preposition Depuis
What is “Depuis”?
Depuis is a French preposition that is commonly translated into English as “since” or “for.” It is used to talk about an action or situation that started in the past and continues into the present.
Key Uses of “Depuis”
1. To express duration (“for”)
| J’apprends le français depuis trois ans. | I have been learning French for three years. |
| Il habite ici depuis 2005. | He has been living here since 2005. |
| Nous travaillons depuis ce matin. | We have been working since this morning. |
2. To indicate a starting point in time (“since”)
| Elle est malade depuis lundi. | She has been sick since Monday. |
| Il pleut depuis hier soir. | It has been raining since last night. |
| Nous sommes amis depuis l’enfance. | We have been friends since we were children. |
3. Used with the imperfect tense
| Je jouais du piano depuis trois ans quand j’ai arrêté. | I had been playing piano for three years when I stopped. |
| Ils habitaient à Paris depuis longtemps avant de déménager. | They had been living in Paris for a long time before moving. |
4. Using “depuis” with the passé composé or plus-que-parfait
| Je ne l’ai pas vu(e) depuis des mois. | I haven’t seen him/her for months. |
| Je ne l’avais pas vu(e) depuis des années. | I hadn’t seen him/her for years. |
Tricky Rules and Common Mistakes
1. Using “depuis” with the present tense
| Il étudie depuis une heure. | He has been studying for an hour. |
| Je vis ici depuis dix ans. | I have been living here for ten years. |
2. Don’t confuse “depuis” with “pendant”
| Il a voyagé pendant deux semaines. | He traveled for two weeks. |
| Il voyage depuis deux semaines. | He has been traveling for two weeks. |
Advanced Tip: Using “Depuis que”
| Depuis qu‘il travaille ici, il est plus heureux. | Since he started working here, he has been happier. |
| Je n’ai pas voyagé depuis que j’ai eu des enfants. | I have not traveled since I had children. |
Practice Makes Perfect
To master “depuis,” practice forming sentences about your own life. Here are some prompts:
1. Write about something you have been doing for a long time.
Example: J’apprends le français depuis…
2. Talk about a friend you have known for many years.
Example: Je connais mon ami(e) depuis…
3. Describe an activity you had been doing in the past before something changed.
Example: Je jouais au tennis depuis…
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