il y a/depuis – Free Exercise

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Exercises

Choose the correct option.

  1. Catherine fait de la danse classique dix ans.Depuis = for/since|It expresses the duration of an action that began in the past and is still ongoing at the moment of speaking.Catherine has been doing classical dance for ten years.
  2. Les voisins ont déménagé cinq mois.Il y a = ago|It tells us the specific point in the past when the event occurred.The neighbours moved five months ago.
  3. Bruno a commencé sa formation de coiffeur deux semaines.Il y a = ago|It tells us the specific point in the past when the event occurred.Bruno started his training as a hairdresser two weeks ago.
  4. Mon cousin m’a envoyé de nombreuses cartes postales qu’il est allé vivre au Canada.Depuis = for/since|It expresses the duration of an action that began in the past and is still ongoing at the moment of speaking.My cousin has sent me several postcards since he arrived in Canada.
  5. quand cette boutique est-elle ouverte ?Depuis = for/since|It expresses the duration of an action that began in the past and is still ongoing at the moment of speaking.Since when has this shop been open?

Complete the sentences with il y a or depuis.

  1. Je suis curieux, je n’ai pas vu Malik   des années.Depuis = for/since|It expresses the duration of an action that began in the past and is still ongoing at the moment of speaking.I’m curious, I haven’t seen Malik for years.
  2. Gilles et Farah se sont rencontrés   six mois.Il y a = ago|It tells us the specific point in the past when the event occurred.Gilles and Farah met six months ago.
  3. Le musée a fermé   dix minutes.Il y a = ago|It tells us the specific point in the past when the event occurred.The museum closed ten minutes ago.
  4. Il pleut à verse   trois jours.Depuis = for/since|It expresses the duration of an action that began in the past and is still ongoing at the moment of speaking.It’s been raining for about three days.
  5. Le jeune homme était plongé dans ses pensées   plusieurs minutes lorsqu’un grand bruit le fit sursauter.Depuis = for/since|It expresses the duration of an action that began in the past and is still ongoing at the moment of speaking.The young man had been deep in thought for several minutes when a loud noise startled him.