Idiomatic present indicative and imperfect with depuis

(quand ?) . — If an act or state continues from the past into the

present, the present indicative with depuis is used; in the case

of the remote past extending to a less remote past, the imperfect

with depuis is used.1

Cet homme est ici depuis hier. That man has been here since yester-

day.

1 Notice that il y a, il y avait can be used in similar constructions.

Il y a un mois que nous sommes ici. We have been here (for) a month. Il y avait trois jours que je voya- / had been traveling {for) three geais. days.

Depuis quand lisez-vous? How long have you been reading?

Je mangeais depuis une demi- / had been eating for a halfheure quand la cloche a sonné. hour when the bell rang.

81. Irregular verbs. — Study the irregular verbs plaire, to please; se taire, to be silent; vaincre, to conquer, overcome; convaincre, to convince.

EXERCISE

(a) i. How long have you been going to school? 2. Pass the peaches and cream to John, please. 3. America was discovered by Christopher Columbus and his companions. 4. I should like to convince her that she is wrong. 5. I met him at his aunt's. He always stays there when he visits this city. 6. Let us conquer our bad habits. 7. Mary was born the 21st of August and died the 6th of June. 8. Let us be silent if he does not wish to pay attention. 9. He left last year and has not yet returned. 10. Where are you going to spend your vacation this summer?

{b) n. Louis the Fourteenth reigned in1 the seventeenth century. 12. Christmas Day falls on2 the 25th of December each year. 13. John is the third man who spoke to me about it. 14. She went out to the orchard to gather apples. 15. The French national holiday falls on 2 the 14th of July. 16. Next Tuesday is the last day of this month. 17. How long had^ie been talking when I came in? 18. Tell us what we ought to do, please. 19. In what year was George Washington, the first President of the United States, born? 20. She had been sitting for a long time when the bell rang.

(c) 21. How many days are there in the month of November? 22. The suit that he bought pleases his mother very much. 23. New Year's Day is a week after Christmas. 24. Our vacation begins the 2d of June and ends the 1st of

1 à. 2 Omit.

September. 25. She would have gone away if I had not called her. 26. I have been studying my French lesson for two hours and it is not finished yet. 27. What is the date of the American national holiday? 28. The Belgians conquered the enemy and captured the city. 29. The United States entered the World War the 6th of April, 191 7. 30. She has been talking for an hour and has not yet finished.

(d) 31. Abraham Lincoln was assassinated the 14th of April, 1865. 32. I am convinced that you do not wish to come with us. ^^. Be silent, my children ; you are talking too loud. 34. The 14th of July is the anniversary of the capture of the Bastille. 35. The Declaration of Independence was signed July the 4th, 1776. 36. He convinced me that the news was true. 37. She arrived here the 15th of March and left the 4th of June. 38. What are you going to do a week from to-day? 39. The dog was silent during the meal. 40. We met them last Sunday while we were going to church.