1. Overview: The 6 Core Time Markers in French A2
In English, the single word "for" or "in" is used in many different time contexts ("I have lived here for 3 years" vs. "I lived there for 3 years" vs. "I am leaving for 3 days"; "I finished it in 10 minutes" vs. "The train leaves in 10 minutes"). In French A2, each of these timelines uses a specific preposition and verb tense:
J'habite ici depuis trois ans.
J'ai habité à Lyon pendant trois ans.
Il est arrivé il y a dix minutes.
Dans = countdown from now (dans 10 min)
Pour = planned future stay (partir pour 3 jours)
2. Depuis vs. Pendant vs. Il y a (Tense Pairing & Meaning Table)
The #1 grammar trap for English speakers in DELF A2 and TEF exams is translating "I have been living here for two years" with the past tense. Because the action is still true right now, French requires the Present Tense + depuis:
| Time Marker | Core Timeline | Required Verb Tense | French A2 Model Sentence & English Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| depuis + [duration] (for X time — still ongoing) |
Started in past → continues now | Présent (or Imparfait in past stories) |
J'apprends le français depuis six mois. (I have been learning French for six months.) |
| depuis + [starting point] (since + date/day/month) |
Started at a point → continues now | Présent (or Neg. Passé Composé) |
Elle travaille ici depuis septembre / 2024. (She has been working here since September / 2024.) |
| Ça fait... que / Il y a... que (Spoken equivalent of depuis) |
Started in past → continues now | Présent | Ça fait deux heures que j'attends le bus ! (I've been waiting for the bus for two hours!) |
| pendant + [duration] (for / during — closed duration) |
Fixed beginning and end (over) | Passé Composé (or Futur / Présent) |
Hier, il a plu pendant quatre heures. (Yesterday, it rained for four hours.) |
| il y a + [duration] (X time ago) |
Point in the past before now | Passé Composé | Le train est parti il y a vingt minutes. (The train left twenty minutes ago.) |
3. En vs. Dans vs. Pour: Accomplishment Time, Future Countdown & Planned Stay
When English says "in ten minutes", stop and ask yourself: does it mean how long it takes to accomplish a task (en) or ten minutes from right now (dans)?
| Preposition | Exact Meaning | Question It Answers | French A2 Model Sentences |
|---|---|---|---|
| EN + [duration] | Accomplishment speed: the total time required to complete a task | En combien de temps ? (How long does it take?) |
J'ai fini mon exercice en dix minutes. (Took 10 min) Le TGV fait Paris–Lyon en deux heures. |
| DANS + [duration] | Future countdown: time remaining from right now until an event starts | Quand ? / Dans combien de temps ? (How soon from now?) |
Le film commence dans dix minutes ! (10 min from now) Nous partirons en vacances dans trois jours. |
| POUR + [duration] | Planned future stay: intended length of a trip/stay (after partir, aller, venir) | Pour combien de temps ? (For how long is the planned stay?) |
Je pars à Rome pour une semaine. Mes parents viennent nous voir pour trois jours. |
4. Asking "How Long?" or "Since When?" & Top 3 DELF A2 Traps
Match your question phrase to the type of time expression expected in the answer:
| French Question Phrase | English Meaning | Model Question & Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Depuis combien de temps... ? | How long have you been...? (Duration) | — Depuis combien de temps habites-tu ici ? — Depuis trois ans. |
| Depuis quand... ? | Since when have you been...? (Starting point) | — Depuis quand travailles-tu ici ? — Depuis lundi / 2024. |
| Pendant combien de temps... ? | For how long did you...? (Completed duration) | — Pendant combien de temps as-tu dormi ? — Pendant huit heures. |
| En combien de temps... ? | How long did it take you to...? (Task speed) | — En combien de temps as-tu lu ce livre ? — En trois jours. |
- Never Use Passé Composé for an Ongoing "Depuis" Action: Do not say ✗ J'ai habité ici depuis deux ans if you still live here! Always use the Present Tense: ✓ J'habite ici depuis deux ans. (Exception: a negative verb like Je n'ai pas vu Paul depuis lundi is correct because the action of seeing him hasn't happened).
- Never Use "Pour" for Past Durations: Do not translate "I waited for 20 minutes" as ✗ J'ai attendu pour 20 minutes. Use pendant: ✓ J'ai attendu pendant 20 minutes.
- "Depuis" + Imparfait in Past Narratives: If an action had already been going on for some time when another past event happened, pair Imparfait + depuis: Elle dormait depuis deux heures quand le téléphone a sonné (She had been sleeping for two hours when the phone rang).
Frequently Asked Questions — French A2 Time Markers (Depuis, Pendant, Il y a, En, Dans)
What is the difference between 'depuis' and 'pendant' in French?
Use 'depuis' with the Present Tense for an action that started in the past and is STILL ongoing right now (J'habite à Paris depuis trois ans = I have been living in Paris for 3 years). Use 'pendant' with the Passé Composé when the duration is completely finished (J'ai habité à Lyon pendant trois ans = I lived in Lyon for 3 years).
What is the difference between 'en' and 'dans' with time expressions in French?
'En + duration' measures how long it takes to accomplish a task (J'ai fait mes devoirs en dix minutes = It took me 10 minutes to do my homework). 'Dans + duration' counts down from the present moment until a future event starts (Le train part dans dix minutes = The train leaves in 10 minutes from now).
When can I use 'pour' with time in French?
In French, 'pour + duration' is used ONLY for a planned future duration, most commonly after verbs like partir, venir, or aller (Je pars à Rome pour trois jours). Never use 'pour' to translate 'for' in a past sentence—use 'pendant' instead.