Use "depuis" in French

"Depuis" is a crucial preposition in French used to express duration. Understanding its usage will help you accurately describe how long something has been happening or how long ago something occurred.

Basic Usage

"Depuis" generally translates to "since" or "for" in English. It's used to indicate:

1. The starting point of an ongoing action
2. The duration of an ongoing state or action

Examples with Present Tense

When used with the present tense, "depuis" indicates an action that began in the past and is still ongoing:

• J'habite à Paris depuis 2020. (I have been living in Paris since 2020.)
• Elle travaille ici depuis trois ans. (She has been working here for three years.)

With Passé Composé

"Depuis" can also be used with the passé composé to express how long ago a completed action occurred:

• Il est parti depuis deux heures. (He left two hours ago.)
• Nous sommes arrivés depuis une semaine. (We arrived a week ago.)

Common Phrases

Some common expressions using "depuis" include:

• Depuis quand ? (Since when?)
• Depuis longtemps (For a long time)
• Depuis peu (Recently)

Remember, "depuis" is always followed by a measure of time or a specific point in time. By mastering its usage, you'll be able to express duration more naturally in French conversations.