I am having difficulty in understanding some of the rules around "depuis que". For example, the sentence "Depuis je te l'ai recontré, je me sense mieux" means in English "Since I have met you, I've been in love with you". Please explain why It isn't "Since I met you". Thanks.
I am having difficulty with this
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Judy B.Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
I am having difficulty with this
This question relates to:French lesson "Depuis que + [conjugated verb] = (Ever) since + [conjugated verb] in French"
Asked 9 years ago
LauraFrench expert and teacher in Kwiziq
Bonjour Judy,
"Since I have met you, I've been in love with you" is not correct in English. Can you please give me the link where you see that?
AurélieNative French expert teacher in Kwiziq
Bonjour Judy,
Here the issue is with the use of Present Perfect (I have met you). The fact is that in French we don't have an equivalent of that fascinating tense, that seems to be sitting in-between past and present.
So instead, you will use either Le Présent when the action is still ongoing now, OR Le Passé Composé when it occurred in the past.
In this case, because the action still has an ongoing effect in the Present, the Present Perfect is the "perfect" tense to use in English!
Hope that's helpful!
Judy B.Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Thanks. I'm reviewing the use of the Present Perfect in English - that may be the problem I'm having with learning the French component.
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