One of the most common French mistakes is translating the English word “for” the same way every time.

In French, depuis, pendant, and pour can all translate to “for,” but they are used in different situations.

The easiest way to remember them is:

Depuis = an action started in the past and is still continuing

Pendant = a completed duration of time

Pour = a planned or intended duration

For example:

J’habite ici depuis trois ans.
I have lived here for three years.

J’ai habité à Paris pendant trois ans.
I lived in Paris for three years.

Je pars en France pour trois semaines.
I am going to France for three weeks.

In this guide, you will learn when to use depuis, pendant, and pour, how to tell them apart, and the common mistakes French learners make.

Quick Answer: Depuis vs Pendant vs Pour

Use depuis when something started in the past and is still happening now.

Use pendant to talk about how long something lasted.

Use pour when talking about how long something is planned or intended to last.

Compare:

Je travaille ici depuis cinq ans.
I have worked here for five years.

J’ai travaillé là-bas pendant cinq ans.
I worked there for five years.

Je vais travailler à Lyon pour six mois.
I am going to work in Lyon for six months.

The English translation may use “for” in all three sentences, but the French word changes depending on the situation.

When to Use Depuis

Use depuis when an action or situation started in the past and continues in the present.

For example:

J’habite en France depuis deux ans.
I have lived in France for two years.

The person moved to France two years ago and still lives there now.

Another example:

J’apprends le français depuis six mois.
I have been learning French for six months.

The learning started six months ago and is still continuing.

Depuis Usually Uses the Present Tense

This is one of the biggest differences between French and English.

In English, you often use the present perfect:

I have lived here for three years.

But in French, if the action is still continuing, you normally use the present tense + depuis.

So:

J’habite ici depuis trois ans.

Not:

❌ J’ai habité ici depuis trois ans.

If you still live there, use the present tense.

Another example:

Je travaille ici depuis 2022.
I have worked here since 2022.

Elle étudie le français depuis janvier.
She has been studying French since January.

Nous sommes amis depuis dix ans.
We have been friends for ten years.

Depuis Can Mean “For” or “Since”

Depuis can translate to either for or since.

Use depuis + duration for “for.”

Depuis trois ans.
For three years.

Depuis deux semaines.
For two weeks.

Depuis longtemps.
For a long time.

Use depuis + starting point for “since.”

Depuis lundi.
Since Monday.

Depuis 2020.
Since 2020.

Depuis mon enfance.
Since my childhood.

For example:

Je suis ici depuis lundi.
I have been here since Monday.

Je suis ici depuis trois jours.
I have been here for three days.

The French word stays the same.

When to Use Pendant

Use pendant to talk about the duration of an action or event.

It is especially common when the action is finished.

For example:

J’ai étudié pendant trois heures.
I studied for three hours.

The studying lasted three hours and then ended.

Another example:

Nous avons habité à Montréal pendant deux ans.
We lived in Montreal for two years.

You are talking about a completed period of time.

Pendant Answers “For How Long?”

Think of pendant as answering:

How long did it last?

For example:

Il a travaillé pendant huit heures.
He worked for eight hours.

Elle a dormi pendant dix heures.
She slept for ten hours.

Nous avons parlé pendant toute la soirée.
We talked all evening.

The focus is on the duration of the completed action.

Depuis vs Pendant

This is the most important comparison.

Look at these two sentences:

J’habite à Miami depuis trois ans.
I have lived in Miami for three years.

J’ai habité à Miami pendant trois ans.
I lived in Miami for three years.

The first sentence means:

I still live in Miami.

The second means:

I no longer live there.

That is the key difference.

Use depuis when the action is still continuing.

Use pendant when you are talking about a completed duration.

Another Example: Depuis vs Pendant

Je travaille dans cette entreprise depuis cinq ans.
I have worked at this company for five years.

You still work there.

J’ai travaillé dans cette entreprise pendant cinq ans.
I worked at this company for five years.

You do not work there anymore.

One small word completely changes the meaning.

When to Use Pour

Use pour when talking about a planned, expected, or intended duration.

For example:

Je pars à Paris pour une semaine.
I am going to Paris for one week.

The trip is planned to last one week.

Another example:

Nous louons cet appartement pour six mois.
We are renting this apartment for six months.

The intended duration is six months.

Pour Is Often Used With Future Plans

You will often see pour with plans and future actions.

For example:

Je vais en France pour deux semaines.
I am going to France for two weeks.

Elle part à Montréal pour un an.
She is going to Montreal for one year.

Nous allons rester ici pour quelques jours.
We are going to stay here for a few days.

The duration is planned in advance.

Pour vs Pendant

These two can look very similar.

Compare:

Je vais à Paris pour trois jours.
I am going to Paris for three days.

J’ai été à Paris pendant trois jours.
I was in Paris for three days.

In the first sentence, the trip is planned.

In the second, you are describing how long the completed trip lasted.

So:

Pour = planned duration

Pendant = actual or completed duration

Can Pendant Be Used in the Future?

Yes.

Pendant is not only used in the past.

For example:

Demain, je vais travailler pendant six heures.
Tomorrow, I am going to work for six hours.

Here, you are focusing on how long the action will last.

However:

Je pars à Londres pour six jours.
I am going to London for six days.

Here, pour emphasizes the intended length of the stay.

The distinction is sometimes subtle, but the basic idea remains:

pour = planned purpose or duration

pendant = duration of the action itself

Common Mistake: Using Pour With an Action That Is Still Continuing

English speakers often say:

I have lived here for five years.

And translate “for” as pour:

❌ J’habite ici pour cinq ans.

If you mean you started living here five years ago and still live here, use:

J’habite ici depuis cinq ans.

This is one of the most common mistakes with these words.

Common Mistake: Using the Passé Composé With Depuis

Another common mistake is:

❌ J’ai appris le français depuis deux ans.

If you are still learning French, say:

J’apprends le français depuis deux ans.

French uses the present tense because the action is still happening.

If the action ended, then you could say:

J’ai appris le français pendant deux ans.
I studied French for two years.

That implies the period is finished.

Common Mistake: Confusing Depuis and Il y a

These two expressions talk about time differently.

Compare:

J’habite ici depuis trois ans.
I have lived here for three years.

J’ai déménagé ici il y a trois ans.
I moved here three years ago.

Depuis describes how long something has been continuing.

Il y a tells you how long ago something happened.

Another example:

Je connais Paul depuis dix ans.
I have known Paul for ten years.

J’ai rencontré Paul il y a dix ans.
I met Paul ten years ago.

These sentences are related, but they are not interchangeable.

What French Speakers Actually Say

These expressions are extremely common in everyday French.

You will hear:

J’habite ici depuis longtemps.
I have lived here for a long time.

Je travaille ici depuis janvier.
I have worked here since January.

J’ai attendu pendant une heure.
I waited for an hour.

On est partis pour deux semaines.
We left for two weeks.

Je reste ici pour quelques jours.
I am staying here for a few days.

French speakers naturally choose between depuis, pendant, and pour based on whether the action is continuing, completed, or planned.

Depuis, Pendant or Pour? Try These Examples

Choose the correct word.

1. J’habite ici ___ cinq ans.

Answer:

depuis

J’habite ici depuis cinq ans.

The action started five years ago and is still continuing.

2. J’ai travaillé à Paris ___ trois ans.

Answer:

pendant

J’ai travaillé à Paris pendant trois ans.

The period of work is finished.

3. Je pars en Espagne ___ deux semaines.

Answer:

pour

Je pars en Espagne pour deux semaines.

You are talking about a planned duration.

4. Nous sommes amis ___ 2018.

Answer:

depuis

Nous sommes amis depuis 2018.

The friendship started in 2018 and continues now.

5. Elle a dormi ___ neuf heures.

Answer:

pendant

Elle a dormi pendant neuf heures.

You are describing how long she slept.

6. Il va vivre à Lyon ___ six mois.

Answer:

pour

Il va vivre à Lyon pour six mois.

The six months are the intended duration.

A Simple Way to Remember the Difference

Ask yourself what kind of time you are describing.

If something started in the past and is still happening, use:

depuis

J’apprends le français depuis un an.
I have been learning French for one year.

If you are talking about how long an action lasted, use:

pendant

J’ai étudié pendant deux heures.
I studied for two hours.

If you are talking about how long something is planned to last, use:

pour

Je pars pour trois semaines.
I am leaving for three weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between depuis and pendant?

Use depuis when the action is still happening now.

Je travaille ici depuis deux ans.
I have worked here for two years.

Use pendant when talking about how long an action lasted.

J’ai travaillé ici pendant deux ans.
I worked here for two years.

Can depuis mean both for and since?

Yes.

Depuis deux ans.
For two years.

Depuis 2024.
Since 2024.

French uses depuis for both.

Why does French use the present tense with depuis?

Because the action is still happening in the present.

So instead of:

I have lived here for three years.

French says:

J’habite ici depuis trois ans.

Literally, this is closer to:

I live here since three years ago.

The structure is different from English.

What is the difference between pour and pendant?

Use pour for an intended or planned duration.

Je pars pour une semaine.
I am leaving for one week.

Use pendant to focus on how long the action lasts or lasted.

J’ai voyagé pendant une semaine.
I traveled for one week.

Can pendant be used with the future?

Yes.

For example:

Je vais étudier pendant deux heures.
I am going to study for two hours.

Pendant can be used in the past, present, or future when you are talking about the duration of an action.

Remember This

Use depuis when something started in the past and is still continuing.

J’habite ici depuis trois ans.
I have lived here for three years.

Use pendant to describe how long an action lasted.

J’ai habité ici pendant trois ans.
I lived here for three years.

Use pour for a planned or intended duration.

Je viens ici pour trois semaines.
I am coming here for three weeks.

The easiest way to remember them is:

Depuis = still happening

Pendant = duration

Pour = planned duration

If you stop translating the English word “for” directly and instead think about whether the action is continuing, completed, or planned, choosing the right French word becomes much easier.