dempuèi
Since and for
Dempuèi plus a length of time or a starting point means for or since.
How It Works
| Dempuèi + | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| a length of time | for | Aprenèm occitan dempuèi un an. |
| a day or a date | since | Maria es malauta dempuèi dimenge. |
| a year | since | Joan trabalha a Besièrs dempuèi 2019. |
Occitan uses the present for a situation that is still true, where English says I have lived here for two years: Demòri aicí dempuèi dos ans. The compound past would make it a finished event.
Put the story in the past with the imperfect: Demoravi a Albi dempuèi dos ans quand Joan es arribat. A negative sentence can use the compound past: Ai pas vist Maria dempuèi ièr.
For a period that is finished, use pendent instead.
Examples (5)
- Aprenèm occitan dempuèi un an.
We have been learning Occitan for a year.
The present aprenèm goes with dempuèi.
- Plòu dempuèi ièr.
It has been raining since yesterday.
Dempuèi ièr gives the starting point.
- Joan trabalha a Besièrs dempuèi 2019.
Joan has worked in Béziers since 2019.
Dempuèi can be followed by a year.
- Sèm aicí dempuèi doas oras.
We have been here for two hours.
Doas oras is a length of time.
- Maria es malauta dempuèi dimenge.
Maria has been ill since Sunday.
Dempuèi dimenge names the day it began.
Common Mistakes
Using the compound past for something that is still going on.
Ai demorat a Tolosa dempuèi dos ans.Demòri a Tolosa dempuèi dos ans.A situation that continues takes the present with dempuèi.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Dempuèi with the present tells how long something has lasted, so uèi, ièr and deman and the -ar present come first.
Related Patterns
- pendentDuring
Pendent covers a period that is finished.
Level 3 - i a dos ans, fa dos ansTime Ago
Fa dos ans que also means for two years, like dempuèi dos ans.
Level 3 - demorarLiving Somewhere
Demorar is the verb of the example Demòri a Tolosa.
Level 1 - dempuèi queSince Something Happened
Dempuèi que starts a clause, not a time.
Level 4 - Days of the Week
Dimenge and the other days follow dempuèi without an article.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
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