What about " Ça fait ... que je ne [verb] pas"

Elijah N.C1Kwiziq community member

What about " Ça fait ... que je ne [verb] pas"

Hello, I was thinking whether the same rule applies to this expression above? 

Also, if you're talking about an already finished action, (for example: you hadn't lived somewhere in a long time, but now you started living there) would you modify the verb in the second part of the sentence (for example, "...que je n'ai pas habité" or "...que je n'habite pas") or the "fait" itself, in the first part (ex: ça faisait, ça a fait, etc) or maybe both? I was thinking about it, and I don't know which one is to use and in which case.

Thank you in advance for clarifying

Asked 3 years ago
Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

Ça fait des semaines que je n'y suis pas allé. --  (lit.) "That makes weeks, that I haven't been there." Or, in better English: "I haven't been there in weeks" (but you are going there now.).

The first part (ça fait...) will usually be present tense. The second part of the sentence follows the rules given in the lesson, which you also refer to in your post.

Elijah N.C1Kwiziq community member

Thanks so much Chris! I was so mixed up between all these options, but it's simpler than I thought.

Bonne journée

What about " Ça fait ... que je ne [verb] pas"

Hello, I was thinking whether the same rule applies to this expression above? 

Also, if you're talking about an already finished action, (for example: you hadn't lived somewhere in a long time, but now you started living there) would you modify the verb in the second part of the sentence (for example, "...que je n'ai pas habité" or "...que je n'habite pas") or the "fait" itself, in the first part (ex: ça faisait, ça a fait, etc) or maybe both? I was thinking about it, and I don't know which one is to use and in which case.

Thank you in advance for clarifying

Sign in to submit your answer

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Ask a question

Find your French level for FREE

Test your French to the CEFR standard

Find your French level
Getting that for you now...