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Grammar
Objective: Select pendant, depuis, or pour based on whether an action is completed, ongoing, or projected, and apply the correct tense that each one requires.
| Preposition | Meaning | Tense required | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| pendant | completed duration | past, present, or future | J'ai travaillé pendant deux heures. |
| depuis | ongoing duration | present, or imperfect for past | Je travaille depuis deux heures. |
| pour | projected duration | future, or present with future meaning | Je pars pour deux semaines. |
| en | time taken to complete | any tense | J'ai fini en deux heures. |
Depuis requires the present tense when the action is still ongoing, so it cannot replace pendant in this completed past-tense sentence.
Pour introduces a projected duration, so it fits a planned trip, while depuis would imply the trip is already ongoing.
Pendant measures a completed duration in the passé composé. The action is finished.
Depuis requires the present tense because the action is still ongoing. English would use the present perfect here.
The subject is still in France, so depuis is the only correct choice. The present tense carries the ongoing meaning.
Pour introduces a projected duration. The trip is imminent or planned, and the duration is bounded.
The period is completed and fully in the past, so pendant fits the passé composé.
6 exercises · about 9 minutes
Pendant covers a completed period in the past, while pour projects forward and cannot describe a closed duration.
Depuis is the only preposition compatible with an action that started in the past and continues in the present, since pendant would frame the stay as a completed block.
The waiting continues, so depuis pairs with the present tense. Changing to the passé composé would alter the meaning to a completed wait.
Pour frames the holiday as a bounded plan. The same sentence with pendant would mean the whole month is already spent.
En measures how long it took to complete the action, not how long it lasted. It is distinct from the three primary prepositions.