Breakdown of Elles sont mariées depuis dix ans.
être
to be
elles
they (feminine)
dix
ten
l'an
the year (m)
depuis
since/for
marié
married
Questions & Answers about Elles sont mariées depuis dix ans.
Why is there an -es at the end of mariées?
Why does the English translation say 'have been', but the French uses sont (are)?
In French, if a state or action started in the past and is still continuing in the present, you use the present tense. Because they are still married right now, French literally says 'They are married for ten years.' English requires the present perfect tense ('have been') for this, which doesn't translate word-for-word into French.
Why use depuis to mean 'for'? Shouldn't it be pour?
This is a classic trap! When talking about an ongoing situation up to the present, depuis translates as both 'since' (a starting point, like 2010) and 'for' (a duration, like ten years). You almost never use pour for past durations in French; it is mostly used for planned future time, like 'I am staying for a week'.
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