Learn French: Je planifie ce grand périple depuis un an. - I have been planning this big trek for a year.

Je planifie ce grand périple depuis un an.

I have been planning this big trek for a year.

Breakdown of Je planifie ce grand périple depuis un an.

Questions & Answers about Je planifie ce grand périple depuis un an.

Why is the present tense (planifie) used instead of a past tense like 'j'ai planifié'?

In French, if an action started in the past and is still continuing in the present, you use the present tense along with depuis. English uses the present perfect continuous ('have been planning'), which can be a tricky difference to remember!

I thought depuis meant 'since'. Why does it mean 'for' in this sentence?

Depuis can translate to either 'since' or 'for' depending on what follows it. It means 'since' with a specific starting point in time (like depuis 2020). It means 'for' when followed by a duration of time, like it is here with un an (a year).

Why does grand come before the noun (périple) instead of after it?

While most French adjectives are placed after the noun, short and common adjectives that describe Beauty, Age, Goodness, or Size (often taught as the BAGS rule) go before the noun. Grand describes size, so it precedes périple.

What is the difference between un périple and un voyage?

While voyage is the standard, everyday word for a trip or journey, a périple implies a longer, more adventurous, or more challenging trek. It really emphasizes the journey itself and the effort involved.