Breakdown of Le contrat est renouvelable pour un an.
être
to be
un
a / an (masculine)
pour
for
l'an
the year (m)
Questions & Answers about Le contrat est renouvelable pour un an.
Why do we use pour here instead of pendant to mean 'for'?
We use pour to express a projected or intended duration in the future. Even though the verb is in the present tense (est), the renewal sets up an intended timeframe of one year. You would use pendant for the actual, continuous duration of an action, usually in the past or general present.
Could I say pour une année instead of pour un an?
For simple counting and basic measurements of time, French prefers an. You use année when focusing on the span of time itself or what happens during it, which is why it is almost always used when there is an adjective attached (like une année entière for 'a whole year'). Since this is just a standard contract measurement, un an is the standard choice.
Is there a mandatory liaison between un and an?
How is the word renouvelable formed, and why does it have only one 'l'?