Expressing for + [duration] in French with either pendant/durant/depuis/pour (French Prepositions of Time)

In French, there are different ways to express "for + [duration]".

How to express duration in French

Look at these sentences using  for + [duration] in English:

J'habite à Paris depuis cinq ans, et ça me plaît toujours !I've lived in Paris for five years, and I still love it!

Il a dormi pendant sept heures la nuit dernière.He slept for seven hours last night.

Ils vont étudier à Montréal pour six mois.They're going to study in Montreal for six months.

As you can see, for + [duration] will be expressed in different ways in French, according to context.


depuis + [durée] = for + [duration]

Je suis là depuis quarante-cinq minutes.I've been here for forty-five minutes.

Marina rêve d'aller en France depuis des années.Marina has dreamt of going to France for years.

On sort ensemble depuis trois mois.We've been dating for three months.

Il parle depuis deux heures !He's been talking for two hours!

In all these cases, the action started in the past, but is still ongoing at the time we speak.

In French, you use depuis to express an ongoing duration.

See also 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) and more advanced Using the compound past (Le Passé Composé) vs the present (Le Présent) in negative sentences with "depuis" (since/for) in French

(pendant / durant) + [durée] = for/during + [duration]

J'étais là pendant quarante-cinq minutes.I was there for forty-five minutes.

Je me brosse les dents trois minutes à chaque fois.I brush my teeth for three minutes each time.

Il court une heure tous les matins.He runs for one hour every morning.

Il court pendant une heure tous les matins.He runs for one hour every morning.

Il court durant une heure tous les matins.He runs for one hour every morning.

Note that these cases all express a duration with a clear beginning and end. Whether they take place in the past, present, or future, they are considered as enclosed in a specific timeframe

In French, you use pendant/durant + [durée], or simply the duration itself,  to express a duration with a clear beginning and end.

 

pour + [durée] = for + [duration]

Je resterai chez toi pour une semaine.I will stay at your place for a week.

Je pars pour deux semaines en avril.I'm going away for two weeks in April.

Nous irons en Guadeloupe pour les vacances.We'll go to Guadeloupe for the holiday.

Mes parents seront à Toulouse pour deux moisMy parents will be in Toulouse for two months.

These sentences all express future durations, with a notion of intent, hence the use of pour

In French, you use pour + [durée] only to express a duration in the future.

Note that in this context, you can also use pendant/durant + [durée], or simply [durée], as the durations expressed have a beginning and an end:

Je pars deux semaines en avril.I'm going away for two weeks in April.

Je pars pendant deux semaines en avril.I'm going away for two weeks in April.


When using for to express a cause, a reasonbecause - you will use the word car in French. This for is not followed by a duration like the aforementioned cases.
Je reste à la maison car je n'ai pas envie de sortir.I'm staying home for I don't feel like going out.

Want to make sure your French sounds confident? We’ll map your knowledge and give you free lessons to focus on your gaps and mistakes. Start your Brainmap today »

Learn more about these related French grammar topics

Examples and resources

Marina rêve d'aller en France depuis des années.Marina has dreamt of going to France for years.
Je suis là depuis quarante-cinq minutes.I've been here for forty-five minutes.
J'étais là pendant quarante-cinq minutes.I was there for forty-five minutes.
Martin a habité à Paris cinq ans, avant de revenir vivre ici.Martin lived in Paris for five years, before moving back here.
On reste à Marseille pendant une semaine.We're staying in Marseille for a week.
Mes parents seront à Toulouse pour deux moisMy parents will be in Toulouse for two months.
Je resterai chez toi pour une semaine.I will stay at your place for a week.
Il court une heure tous les matins.He runs for one hour every morning.
Ils vont étudier à Montréal pour six mois.They're going to study in Montreal for six months.
Il court pendant une heure tous les matins.He runs for one hour every morning.
Je pars deux semaines en avril.I'm going away for two weeks in April.
Il court durant une heure tous les matins.He runs for one hour every morning.
Je parlerai deux heures à cette conférence.I will speak for two hours at that conference.
Je pars pendant deux semaines en avril.I'm going away for two weeks in April.
Je pars pour deux semaines en avril.I'm going away for two weeks in April.
Il a dormi pendant sept heures la nuit dernière.He slept for seven hours last night.
Je reste à la maison car je n'ai pas envie de sortir.I'm staying home for I don't feel like going out.
J'habite à Paris depuis cinq ans, et ça me plaît toujours !I've lived in Paris for five years, and I still love it!
Je me brosse les dents trois minutes à chaque fois.I brush my teeth for three minutes each time.
Nous irons en Guadeloupe pour les vacances.We'll go to Guadeloupe for the holiday.
On sort ensemble depuis trois mois.We've been dating for three months.
Il parle depuis deux heures !He's been talking for two hours!
Clever stuff happening!