Expressions de durée en français

Expressions for Duration in French

• pendant (for): Indicates a duration with a defined beginning and end (past, present, or future). It can also describe two simultaneous actions.

  • Example: J'ai étudié pendant deux heures. (I studied for two hours.)

• pendant que (while): Indicates two simultaneous actions. It's a more formal alternative to "pendant."

  • Example: Je lisais pendant qu'il dormait. (I was reading while he was sleeping.)

• durant (during, for): Describes an action that started in the past and continues in the present.

  • Example: Elle a voyagé durant trois semaines. (She travelled for three weeks.)

• depuis (since, for): Specifies the starting point of an ongoing action.

  • Example: Elle travaille ici depuis trois ans. (She has been working here for three years.)

• depuis + point (since): Introduces a subordinate clause for an action ongoing since a specific moment.

  • Example: Depuis qu'elle est ici, tout va mieux. (Since she arrived, everything is better.)

• il y a (ago): Indicates a moment or event completed in the past.

  • Example: Elle est partie il y a deux heures. (She left two hours ago.)

• en (in): Indicates the time taken to complete an action.

  • Example: J'ai fini ce livre en trois jours. (I finished this book in three days.)

• pour (for): Refers to a planned or expected duration in the future.

  • Example: Nous partons en vacances pour deux semaines. (We are leaving for vacation for two weeks.)

• dans (in): Specifies a future point in time when something will happen.

  • Example: Il arrivera dans trois jours. (He will arrive in three days.)

• de...à (from...to): Specifies a clear range or period (e.g., hours, dates).

  • Example: Je travaille de 9 h à 17 h. (I work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

• des...à (from...to): Another form for ranges, often used for plural units.

  • Example: La réunion dure des années 2000 à 2010. (The meeting lasted from 2000 to 2010.)

• jusqu'à (until, up to): Indicates a limit in time or space.

  • Example: Tu peux rester jusqu'à minuit. (You can stay until midnight.)