Another depuis-question!!!

Question

"I have lived in Paris for one year." means that the speaker has, in the past, lived in Paris but isn't living there anymore. Therefore, I would expect "J'ai habité à Paris depuis un an." to be the correct translation. But, alas, "J'habite à Paris depuis un an." is provided as correct. However, does that not imply that the speaker is still living in Paris????

-- Chris.

Accepted Answer

Bonjour Chris,

I'm afraid you're mistaken. "I have lived in Paris for one year" means that I moved to Paris one year ago and am still there.

"J'ai habité à Paris pendant un an" means "I lived in Paris for one year" (I was there for a year but am not there any more.)

Answer

This is a great question. Since Passé Composé encompasses English Simple Past as well as Present Perfect (and Past Emphatic),  "J'ai habité à Paris pendant un an" would indeed be ambiguous. BUT in French expressions of time, Le Présent is used for Present Perfect, et voilà ... problem solved, not ambiguous. See “Using 'depuis' (since / for) with Le Présent and NOT Le Passé Composé (prepositions of time)”