What “Depuis“ Means (and How to Use It)268

Depuis (pronounced [dəpɥi] in French) is a preposition that means "since" in English. It is used to indicate the start of a period of time that continues up to the present or to a specified endpoint. Unlike "for," which is used to indicate the duration of a period of time, "depuis" is used to indicate the starting point of a period of time.Here are some examples of how to use "depuis" in a sentence:

Je suis en France depuis deux ans. (I have been in France for two years.)
Il pleut depuis hier. (It has been raining since yesterday.)
Depuis que je suis arrivé, j'ai rencontré beaucoup de gens sympas. (Since I arrived, I have met a lot of nice people.)

"Depuis" can also be used to indicate a point in time in the past:

Depuis 1990, le monde a changé. (The world has changed since 1990.)
Je n'ai pas vu ma famille depuis Noël. (I haven't seen my family since Christmas.)
Depuis le début de l'année, j'ai perdu 10 kilos. (I have lost 10 kilos since the beginning of the year.)

"Depuis" can also be used with the present tense to indicate an action that started in the past and is still continuing:

J'habite à Paris depuis 2010. (I have been living in Paris since 2010.)
Je travaille dans cette entreprise depuis 5 ans. (I have been working in this company for 5 years.)
Je suis marié depuis 10 ans. (I have been married for 10 years.)

"Depuis" can also be used with the future tense to indicate an action that will start in the future and continue up to a specified endpoint:

Je vais étudier en France depuis septembre. (I will be studying in France from September.)
Je vais travailler dans cette entreprise depuis le mois prochain. (I will be working in this company from next month.)
Je vais me marier depuis l'année prochaine. (I will be getting married next year.)

Here is a table summarizing the different ways to use "depuis":
| Tense | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Present | To indicate the start of a period of time that continues up to the present | Je suis en France depuis deux ans. (I have been in France for two years.) |
| Past | To indicate a point in time in the past | Depuis 1990, le monde a changé. (The world has changed since 1990.) |
| Present perfect | To indicate an action that started in the past and is still continuing | J'habite à Paris depuis 2010. (I have been living in Paris since 2010.) |
| Future | To indicate an action that will start in the future and continue up to a specified endpoint | Je vais étudier en France depuis septembre. (I will be studying in France from September.) |
"Depuis" is a versatile preposition that can be used in a variety of situations. By understanding how to use "depuis," you can improve your French communication skills.