Asking How Long and Since When
7.1.1. The Main Idea
To ask how long something has been happening, French often uses depuis, meaning for or since.
Depuis combien de temps ? | For how long? |
Depuis quand ? | Since when? |
In French, depuis is often used with the present tense when the action is still happening now.
7.1.2. Main Questions
Depuis combien de temps tu étudies le français ? | How long have you been studying French? |
Depuis quand tu étudies le français ? | Since when have you been studying French? |
Tu habites à Calgary depuis combien de temps ? | How long have you been living in Calgary? |
Tu travailles ici depuis quand ? | Since when have you been working here? |
7.1.3. Formal Questions
Depuis combien de temps est-ce que vous étudiez le français ? | How long have you been studying French? |
Depuis quand est-ce que vous habitez ici ? | Since when have you been living here? |
Vous travaillez ici depuis combien de temps ? | How long have you been working here? |
Vous habitez à Calgary depuis quand ? | Since when have you been living in Calgary? |
7.1.4. Answering with Depuis + Time Period
Use depuis + amount of time to say for + amount of time.
J’étudie le français depuis un an. | I have been studying French for one year. |
J’habite à Calgary depuis deux ans. | I have been living in Calgary for two years. |
Je travaille ici depuis trois mois. | I have been working here for three months. |
Je fais du sport depuis six mois. | I have been exercising for six months. |
7.1.5. Answering with Depuis + Starting Point
Use depuis + starting point to say since + starting point.
J’étudie le français depuis septembre. | I have been studying French since September. |
J’habite ici depuis 2024. | I have been living here since 2024. |
Je travaille ici depuis lundi. | I have been working here since Monday. |
Je fais du sport depuis janvier. | I have been exercising since January. |
7.1.6. Important Difference from English
English often uses have been + -ing.
I have been studying French for one year. | J’étudie le français depuis un an. |
I have been living in Calgary since 2024. | J’habite à Calgary depuis 2024. |
French usually keeps the verb in the present tense when the action is still true now.
7.1.7. Time Expressions
un jour | one day |
une semaine | one week |
un mois | one month |
un an | one year |
deux jours | two days |
trois semaines | three weeks |
quatre mois | four months |
cinq ans | five years |
longtemps | a long time |
7.1.8. More Examples
Je suis à Calgary depuis deux ans. | I have been in Calgary for two years. |
Je connais Marie depuis longtemps. | I have known Marie for a long time. |
Je parle français depuis six mois. | I have been speaking French for six months. |
Je porte ce chapeau depuis ce matin. | I have been wearing this hat since this morning. |
Je ne travaille plus ici depuis janvier. | I have not worked here since January. |
7.1.9. Core Patterns
Depuis combien de temps ? | For how long? |
Depuis quand ? | Since when? |
present tense + depuis + time period | have been ___ for ___ |
present tense + depuis + starting point | have been ___ since ___ |
J’étudie depuis un an. | I have been studying for one year. |
J’habite ici depuis 2024. | I have been living here since 2024. |
7.1.10. Practice
How long have you been studying French? |
Since when have you lived here? |
I have been studying French for one year. |
I have lived in Calgary for two years. |
I have worked here for three months. |
I have exercised since January. |
I have known Marie for a long time. |
7.1.11. Answers
How long have you been studying French? | Depuis combien de temps tu étudies le français ? |
Since when have you lived here? | Depuis quand tu habites ici ? |
I have been studying French for one year. | J’étudie le français depuis un an. |
I have lived in Calgary for two years. | J’habite à Calgary depuis deux ans. |
I have worked here for three months. | Je travaille ici depuis trois mois. |
I have exercised since January. | Je fais du sport depuis janvier. |
I have known Marie for a long time. | Je connais Marie depuis longtemps. |
7.1.12. Short Dialogue
A : Depuis combien de temps tu étudies le français ? | A: How long have you been studying French? |
B : J’étudie le français depuis un an. Et toi ? | B: I have been studying French for one year. And you? |
A : Moi, j’étudie le français depuis septembre. | A: I have been studying French since September. |
B : Très bien ! | B: Very good! |
7.1.13. Checkpoint
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to ask how long with depuis combien de temps, ask since when with depuis quand, and answer with depuis + time period or depuis + starting point.
7.1.14. Try It Out
Try saying this in French:
How long have you been studying French?
I have been studying French for one year.
Possible answer:
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