- Use "depuis" with a starting point for an ongoing action.
- Use "jusque" with a date/time to indicate a limit.
- Use "pendant" with a duration for a complete action over time.
| Mot (Word) | Exemple (Example) |
|---|---|
| Depuis (Since) | Je vis ici depuis 2010. (I have lived here since 2010.) |
| Jusque / Jusqu'à (Until) | La réunion dure jusque / jusqu'à 18h. (The meeting lasts until 6 p.m.) |
| Pendant (During) | Nous parlons pendant deux heures. (We speak for two hours.) |
Exceptions!
- Jusqu' is used when jusque is followed by "à" or "au", because these words begin with a vowel or a mute "h", to make pronunciation smoother. Example: Je travaille jusqu'à 18h aujourd'hui.
- Jusqu'à is the most common and standard form, used to indicate both time and space, and it is the one you will most often encounter in French.
Exercise 1: Expression du temps: "Depuis, Jusqu'à, Pendant, etc..."
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
jusque, pendant, depuis, jusqu'à
1.
Je vis ici ... cinq ans avec ma famille.
(I have lived here for five years with my family.)
2.
Ma tante et mon cousin sont en vacances ... lundi prochain.
(My aunt and my cousin are on holiday until next Monday.)
3.
Nous parlons avec notre mère ... cinq heures.
(We talk with our mother for five hours.)
4.
Elle habite chez ses parents ... janvier.
(She has been living with her parents since January.)
5.
Le couple reste ici ... vingt heures.
(The couple stays here until eight o'clock.)
6.
Avec mon frère on parle ... deux heures le soir.
(My brother and I talk for two hours in the evening.)
7.
Je suis marié ... quinze ans.
(I have been married for fifteen years.)
8.
Mon grand-père et mon oncle se réunissent ... le weekend.
(My grandfather and my uncle get together during the weekend.)
Exercise 2: Translate and use in a sentence
Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.
1
depuis
for
2
jusqu'à
until
3
pendant
during
4
jusque
until