pendant vs il y a- confused!

Lorraine M.A2Kwiziq community member

pendant vs il y a- confused!

Are both of these sentences correct?

il est parti il y a trois semaines (he left 3 weeks ago)

il est parti pendant trois semaines (he has been gone for 3 weeks)

Asked 4 years ago
CélineNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Bonjour Lorraine,

Your first sentence is right.

However: 

Il est parti pendant trois semaines = he left for three weeks (he is back now)

Il est parti depuis trois semaines = he has been gone for three weeks (he is                                                                                                          still away)

Here are some links to explain the rules:

expressing-for-duration-with-either-pendant-durant-depuis-or-pour

how-you-use-depuis-since-for-with-le-present-and-not-le-passe-compose-prepositions-of-time

I hope this is helpful.

Bonne journée!

pendant vs il y a- confused!

Are both of these sentences correct?

il est parti il y a trois semaines (he left 3 weeks ago)

il est parti pendant trois semaines (he has been gone for 3 weeks)

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