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One of the fascinating aspects of learning a new
language is delving into its nuances and quirks. In Spanish, mastering time
expressions is essential for effective communication. Three commonly used
expressions, "desde," "desde hace," and "hace,"
play pivotal roles in expressing time-related concepts. In this blog post,
we'll explore the usage and provide clear examples of these essential Spanish
time expressions.
- Desde
(Since):
"Desde" translates to "since"
in English and is used to indicate the starting point of an action or event. To
use it correctly:
Structure: Desde + point in time or starting event
Examples:
- Desde el lunes (Since Monday)
- Vivo
en esta casa desde 2005 (I have lived in this house since 2005)
- Desde
Hace (For, For the past):
"Desde hace" is equivalent to
"for" or "for the past" in English. It expresses the
duration of an action or event that began in the past and continues into the
present. Here's how to use it:
Structure: Desde hace + period of time
Examples:
- Trabajo
aquí desde hace cinco años (I have been working here for five years)
- Estudiamos
español desde hace tres meses (We have been studying Spanish for three
months)
- Hace
(Ago):
"Hace" is used to indicate how long ago
an action or event took place. It is equivalent to "ago" in English.
To use it correctly:
Structure: Hace + period of time
Examples:
- Llegaron
hace una hora (They arrived an hour ago)
- Comí
esa pizza hace dos días (I ate that pizza two days ago)
Nuances:
- When
using "desde hace" and "hace" with expressions of
time, pay attention to the verb tense. For ongoing actions, use the
present tense with "desde hace." For past actions, use the
preterite tense with "hace."
Examples:
- Trabajo
aquí desde hace tres años (I have been working here for three years -
ongoing action).
- Trabajé
aquí hace tres años (I worked here three years ago - past action).
Understanding the intricacies of "desde,"
"desde hace," and "hace" is a valuable asset in your
journey to mastering Spanish. These time expressions allow you to convey when
an action began, how long it has been going on, or when an event took place in
the past.
Practice using them in your conversations and
writing to enhance your Spanish language skills. ¡Buena suerte! (Good luck!)