Thank you for using the Jiskha Homework Help Forum. Since you know they are time expressions, it would help to see the examples you have seen. Without that, we might not explain it in context, or exactly the way it was used.
Ça fait = literally "that makes" as in the expression: Ça fait une heure qu'il attend = "that makes an hour that he is waiting" However do NOT translate it literally! It means more like "He has been waiting an hour!"
depuis = this could be an adverb (since) or a preposition (since, for). An example could be "Je suis à Paris depuis trois jours" = again NOT literally (I am in Paris since 3 days) BUT "I have been in Paris for 3 days.
il y a = this expression is both singular and plural = there is / there are. il y a un livre sur la table = there is a book on the table / il y des livres sur la table = there are some books on the table. However, in time expressions, il y a can mean "ago" as in il y a une heure = an hour ago. It is often used with the passé composé to say when something happened (il y a une heure qu'il est arrivé = literally there is one hour that he arrived BUT translated "He arrived an hour ago."
Hopefully that has explained what you wanted to know. If not, let us know!
Mme
Can someone please explain when to use depuis, ca fait, and il y a? I know they're time expressions but I'm so confused about when to put what. Thanks!
2 answers
I was wondering the samething as well, thank-you SraJMcGin