French Preposition Pendant

How To Use The French Preposition Pendant

Mastering French prepositions can be one of the trickiest parts of learning the language, and the French preposition pendant is no exception. If you’ve ever felt confused about when and how to use “pendant,” you’re not alone. The good news is that with clear explanations, useful examples, and a little practice, you can feel confident using “pendant” whether you’re talking about time, actions, or events. You can download a free PDF of this lesson in my private French Grammar Library.

French Preposition Pendant

What is “Pendant”?

The French preposition pendant is used to express a duration of time or to indicate that something happened throughout a specific period. In English, “pendant” can be translated as “during,” “for,” or even left out entirely depending on the context.

General Use of “Pendant”

“Pendant” is most often used with time expressions to indicate how long something lasted or will last.

J’ai voyagé pendant deux semaines.	I traveled for two weeks.
Elle a dormi pendant le film.	She slept during the movie.
Nous avons parlé pendant toute la soirée.	We talked the whole evening.
Ils joueront au tennis pendant les vacances.	They will play tennis during the holidays.
Pendant l’hiver, il fait froid.	During the winter, it is cold.

“Pendant” vs. English Prepositions

French often uses “pendant” in situations where English uses a different preposition or none at all.

Pendant combien de temps as-tu étudié?	How long did you study?
Il a pleuré pendant toute la nuit.	He cried all night.
Pendant son discours, tout le monde écoutait.	During his speech, everyone was listening.
Je suis restée à Paris pendant un mois.	I stayed in Paris for a month.

Using “Pendant” in Different Tenses

“Pendant” can be used with past, present, and future tenses.

Past Tense Examples:

Il a plu pendant trois jours.	It rained for three days.
J’ai étudié pendant deux heures hier soir.	I studied for two hours last night.
Elle a travaillé pendant tout l’été.	She worked all summer.
Nous avons marché pendant des heures.	We walked for hours.
Ils ont attendu pendant longtemps.	They waited for a long time.

Present Tense Examples:

Il neige pendant plusieurs jours chaque hiver.	It snows for several days every winter.
Nous travaillons pendant huit heures par jour.	We work eight hours a day.
Elle étudie pendant la nuit.	She studies during the night.
Je lis pendant mon temps libre.	I read during my free time.
Ils jouent au foot pendant le week-end.	They play soccer on the weekend.

Future Tense Examples:

Je partirai en vacances pendant deux semaines.	I will go on vacation for two weeks.
Nous travaillerons pendant les fêtes.	We will work during the holidays.
Elle restera ici pendant un mois.	She will stay here for a month.
Ils voyageront pendant toute l’année prochaine.	They will travel all next year.
Tu étudieras pendant la pause.	You will study during the break.

“Pendant que”

“Pendant que” is a conjunction that means “while” and connects two clauses.

Pendant que je cuisinais, il lisait.	While I was cooking, he was reading.
Nous avons parlé pendant qu’elle dormait.	We talked while she was sleeping.
Pendant que tu étais à l’école, j’ai fait les courses.	While you were at school, I did the shopping.
Elle chantait pendant qu’il jouait de la guitare.	She was singing while he was playing the guitar.
Pendant qu’il regardait la télé, elle écrivait une lettre.	While he was watching TV, she was writing a letter.

Tricky Rules and Notes

1. “Pendant” emphasizes the entire duration of an event, whereas “durant” (a synonym) can feel slightly more formal.

2. In some contexts, “pendant” can be left out when the meaning is clear.

Example: “J’ai attendu deux heures” (I waited two hours).

3. Do not confuse “pendant” with “depuis.” “Depuis” indicates an action that started in the past and continues into the present, while “pendant” refers to a completed action or a specific duration.

Example: “J’ai étudié pendant deux heures” (I studied for two hours) versus “J’étudie depuis deux heures” (I have been studying for two hours).