Using the present tense (Le Présent) - and not the compound past (Le Passé Composé) - in sentences with "depuis" (since/for) in French (French Prepositions of Time)

In English, we use the Present Perfect (e.g. I have been) to express an action started in the past but that is still going on in the present.

I have lived here for four years. / I have been living here for four years.
Note that in French, there's no distinction between simple and continuous forms.

 

However, in French, you use another tense to express such actions.

Learn how to use Le Présent (Indicatif) with 'depuis' in French

Look at these examples in French:

Je suis avec ma copine depuis 2005.I have been with my girlfriend since 2005.

J'habite à Paris depuis quatre ans.I have lived in Paris for 4 years.

Je parle depuis 45 minutes.I've been speaking for 45 minutes.

Notice that in French, to express the same kind of actions, we use depuis with Le Présent (Indicatif). 

Depuis can mean both for + [duration] and since + [date] in this context.

Note that you can never use pour in that context. 

See also Expressing for + [duration] in French with either pendant/durant/depuis/pour (French Prepositions of Time) and the more advanced Using the compound past (Le Passé Composé) vs the present (Le Présent) in negative sentences with "depuis" (since/for) in French

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Examples and resources

Je suis avec ma copine depuis 2005.I have been with my girlfriend since 2005.
J'habite à Paris depuis quatre ans.I have lived in Paris for 4 years.
Je parle depuis 45 minutes.I've been speaking for 45 minutes.
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