Why is it not "J'ai habité DEPUIS cinq ans"?
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CB R.Kwiziq community member
Why is it not "J'ai habité DEPUIS cinq ans"?
This is what I seem to recall having been taught at school (admittedly, a very long time ago!).
This question relates to:French lesson "Il y a + [durée] = [duration] + ago (French Expressions of Time)"
Asked 7 years ago
Bonjour CB !
"Depuis" implies that the action is not yet finished, it is still ongoing in the present (you're still living there), which in French is incompatible with Le Passé Composé. This tense only refers to actions that are past and over with in French, similarly to the Simple Past in English (I lived there).
If you wanted to express that you lived there for five years, but it's over now, you wouldn't use the word "depuis" but "pendant" (during), as such:
"J'ai habité à Paris pendant cinq ans, mais maintenant j'habite à Londres."
I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt !
"Depuis" implies that the action is not yet finished, it is still ongoing in the present (you're still living there), which in French is incompatible with Le Passé Composé. This tense only refers to actions that are past and over with in French, similarly to the Simple Past in English (I lived there).
If you wanted to express that you lived there for five years, but it's over now, you wouldn't use the word "depuis" but "pendant" (during), as such:
"J'ai habité à Paris pendant cinq ans, mais maintenant j'habite à Londres."
I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt !
CB R.Kwiziq community member
Thank you for that clarification. Now I merely have to commit it to memory!!!
Peepy S.Kwiziq community member
Bonjour,
Just my experience, but the best way to learn is to use, not try to remember. Happy learning!
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