Is there still a problem with the use of "pour" in this lesson?
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AdrienneKwiziq community member
Is there still a problem with the use of "pour" in this lesson?
This question relates to:French lesson "Expressing for + [duration] in French with either pendant/durant/depuis/pour (French Prepositions of Time)"
Asked 6 years ago

Ron Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
A teacher explained to me the use of "pour" for expressing duration as that it is only use in speaking of a time in the future, I am going to Paris for ten days, J'irai à Paris pour ten jours.
It is never used in expressing an event in the past that I am aware of.
Ron

Ron Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Bonjour Adrienne, Here is another explanation for the use of "pour" in expressing time duration. I find it helpful at times to check other resources to find out how that author views a question.
Pour can express the duration of an event only in the future. Note that pendant could also be used in all of these.
Je vais y habiter pour 2 mois.
I'm going to live there for 2 months.
Il étudiera en Europe pour 3 ans.
He'll study in Europe for 3 years.
Le projet est suspendu pour un an.
The project is suspended for a year.
Although the verb in the final example is not in the future, the use of pour indicates that the one-year suspension is either about to start or is currently underway. If the suspension had already occurred, you would have to use pendant:
Le projet a été suspendu pendant un an.
The project was suspended for a year.
Ron
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