Breakdown of Le docteur nous attend depuis une heure.
nous
we / us (object pronoun)
l'heure
the hour / o'clock (f)
attendre
to wait / to wait for
depuis
since/for
le docteur
the doctor (as a title)
Questions & Answers about Le docteur nous attend depuis une heure.
Why is the present tense verb attend used here when the English translation says "has been waiting"?
In French, when an action started in the past and is still continuing in the present, you use the present tense combined with depuis (meaning "since" or "for"). Because the doctor is still waiting right now, French uses the present tense attend.
Why isn't there a word for "for" in this sentence, like "waiting for"?
The French verb attendre inherently means "to wait for". It connects directly to its object without needing an extra preposition like pour.
Attend looks like the English word "attend". Do they mean the same thing?
Why is nous placed before the verb instead of after?
In French, object pronouns like nous (meaning "us" in this sentence) are placed directly in front of the verb they are connected to. So instead of saying "attend nous", you must say nous attend.
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