Here are 9 French prepositions of time (depuis, pendant, pour, il y a, dans, jusqu’à, en, de… à and d’ici) and when to use them.
Depuis
“Depuis” is used to talk about a period of time which started in the past and continues in the present.
- Je te connais depuis que j’ai dix ans. I have known you since I’m ten years old.
- Elle t’attend depuis cinq minutes. She’s been waiting for you for five minutes.
Pendant
“Pendant” is used to talk about past and future actions of a limited period of time.
- J’ai habité au Canada pendant un an. I lived in Canada for a year.
- Il sera en vacances pendant deux semaines. He will be on holiday for two weeks.
Pour
“Pour” is used to talk about future plans.
- Je pars travailler en France pour six mois. I’m going to work in France for six months.
Il y a
We use “Il y a” to talk about a moment in the past.
- Il est allé au Mexique il y a trois ans. He went to Mexico three years ago.
Dans
“Dans” is used to talk about a moment in the future.
- J’ai un entretien dans une semaine. I have an interview in one week’s time.
Jusqu’à
“Jusqu’à/jusqu’aux/jusqu’en” are used to talk about the end of a period of time.
- Je serai en Irlande jusqu’à la fin du mois. I will be in Ireland until the end of the month.
- Nous travaillons jusqu’aux vacances de Noël. We are working until the Christmas holidays.
- Je reste ici jusqu’en avril. I will stay here until April.
En
We use “en” to talk about a date or the time required to complete an action.
- Je suis allé aux États-Unis en 2010. I went to the United States in 2010.
- J’ai fait mes courses en vingt minutes. I did my shopping in twenty minutes.
De… à
The prepositions “de… à” is used to limit a period of time.
- Le supermarché est ouvert de 8h à 21h. The supermarket is open from 8am to 9pm.
D’ici
Lastly, “d’ici” is the equivalent of by in English.
- Je veux parler couramment français d’ici la fin de l’année. I want to be fluent in French by the end of the year.
Find my other post about French grammar here.
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