Introduction

Expressions with depuis, depuis que, il y a … que, etc. pose a particular problem for the English student because:

1. – English and French may use different tenses with these types of tense markers;

2. – French tense markers such as depuis, il y a … que cannot be translated systematically into English by tense markers such as for, since, ago, etc.

depuis and depuis que

With depuis or depuis que, the present is used to express the fact that an action or a state, begun in the past, still continues in the present.

1. (i) depuis is a preposition; depuis + noun/noun phrase has two uses:

1. – to introduce a period of time (for):

2. Ex: Paul vit dans le Midi depuis plusieurs années.

3. Paul has been living in the South of France for several years.

1. – to refer to the beginning of an action or state (since), usually followed by an indication of date:

2. Ex: Paul vit dans le Mididepuisle 3 juillet 1988.

3. Paul has been living in the South of France since July 3rd 1988.

(ii) depuis que is a conjunction; depuis que + subordinate clause is used to refer to the beginning of an action or state (since).

Ex: Paul vit dans le Midi depuis qu'il est à la retraite.

Paul has been living in the South of France since he retired.