How to tell how long something has been happening

orhow long ago something

happened

How to tell how long something has been happening

orhow long ago something

happened

Hace + time expression + que(with the present and preterite

tenses)

Hace + time expression + que(with the present and preterite

tenses)

Asi se dice:

• The verb construction hace + period of time is used to talk about how long an event or condition has been taking place (presente) or how long (or how long ago) it has been since an event or condition took place (pretérito).

To indicate how long something has been happening, Spanish speakers use the construction hace + period of time + que + present tense

• ¿Cuánto tiempo hace que vives en Buenos Aires?How long have you been living in Buenos Aires?

•Hace seis años que vivo en Buenos Aires.I’ve been living here for six years.

To express how long ago an action or state occurred, Spanish speakers use the verb for hace + period of time + que +

preterite tense.

• ¿Cuánto tiempo hace que se mudaron (ustedes) de la Argentina?How long ago did you move from Argentina?

• Hace un año que nos mudamos.We moved a year ago.

Práctica

• Click here to practice hace + que expressions in the present tense.

• Click here to practice hace + que expressions in the preterite tense.