French language Q&A Forum

If pendant is used to describe past durations with a clear beginning and end, and the imperfect is used to describe continuing actions or habits in the past, why is the example "J'étais là pendant quarante-cinq minutes" instead of "J'ai été là pendant quarante-cinq minutes" since the passé composé is used to describe actions with a clear beginning & end in the past. 

Is there a rule exception for using pendant and l'imparfait?

If he lives in a magnificent palace, why is the translation not 'magnifique palais' as opposed to the "correct" version 'magnifique château'? I suppose it's because it's "Le Château de Versailles"… but when is it appropriate to use "palais" literally?