ā± B1 Ā· Spanish Grammar Ā· Time Expressions
Desde, Hace,
Desde hace & Desde que
Expressing duration, elapsed time, and the starting point of ongoing actions ā some of the most nuanced time expressions in Spanish.
Overview ā What’s the difference?
All five expressions deal with time ā but differently
These expressions are often confused because they all relate to the past and present. The key is understanding whether you are talking about a starting point in time, a duration, or a completed time ago.
š Starting point
e.g. 2020 / Monday
/ when she left
/ when she left
DURATION (desde hace / haceā¦que)
hace 3 aƱos
completed
past event
past event
š NOW
ahora
| Expression | Answers | Tense | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| desde + point in time | Since when? / From when? | Present | Vivo aquĆ desde 2018. |
| hace + duration + que | How long? (duration) | Present | Hace dos aƱos que estudio. |
| desde hace + duration | For how long? (duration) | Present | Estudio desde hace dos aƱos. |
| desde que + clause | Since what event? | Present | Desde que lleguĆ©, todo cambiĆ³. |
| hace + duration | How long ago? (completed) | Past | Lo conocĆ hace tres aƱos. |
Starting points
DESDE ā Since / From a point in time
Desde marks the starting point of an action that is still ongoing. It’s followed by a specific date, time, or event.
Formula 1 ā specific date/time
Present tense verb
+
desde
+
date / time / year
Vivo en Madrid desde 2015.
I have been living in Madrid since 2015.
desde + year ā still living there now
Trabaja aquĆ desde el lunes.
She has been working here since Monday.
Since + event
DESDE QUE ā Since the moment whenā¦
Desde que is used when the starting point is described as an event (a full clause), not just a date or time.
Formula 2 ā event as starting point
Present verb
+
desde que
+
full clause (past event)
Desde que se fue, no como bien.
Since she left, I haven’t been eating well.
Desde que empecƩ el gimnasio, me siento mejor.
Since I started the gym, I feel better.
š
desde + date/number vs desde que + clause: “Desde las cinco” (since five o’clock) vs “Desde que llegĆ³” (since he arrived). The presence of a full verb after decides which form to use.
Duration & elapsed time
HACE ā For (duration) & Ago (elapsed)
Hace is the most versatile and has TWO main uses depending on the tense:
Haceā¦ que (present) = FOR
Hace [time] que + present
Action STARTED in the past and IS STILL happening. Duration up to now.
Hace (past) = AGO
verb (past) + hace [time]
Action was COMPLETED in the past. It is OVER now. Answers “how long ago?”
š Start
āāāā
ć°ļø Still ongoing
āāāā
š NOW
Haceā¦ que = for (ongoing)
Hace
+
time period
+
que
+
present tense verb
Hace dos aƱos que estudio espaƱol.
I have been studying Spanish for two years. (still studying!)
Haceā¦ que + present = ongoing duration
Hace tres meses que vivo aquĆ.
I’ve been living here for three months.
Hace = ago (completed)
past tense verb
+
hace
+
time period
Lo conocĆ hace tres aƱos.
I met him three years ago. (completed ā met once, now over)
past tense + hace = ago
Me fui de allĆ hace mucho tiempo.
I left there a long time ago.
ā ļø
The tense changes everything! “Hace dos aƱos que vivo aquĆ” (I’ve been living here FOR two years ā present, ongoing) ā “VivĆ allĆ hace dos aƱos” (I lived there two years AGO ā past, completed).
Duration with since-point
DESDE HACE ā For [a period of time] (starting from back then)
Desde hace combines both: it expresses a duration (a length of time) that started in the past and continues now. It is interchangeable with haceā¦ que ā they mean the same thing but with different word order!
Desde hace ā formula
Present tense verb
+
desde hace
+
time period
Toco la guitarra desde hace cinco aƱos.
I have been playing the guitar for five years.
Trabajamos juntos desde hace un aƱo.
We’ve been working together for a year.
Me duele la cabeza desde hace dos dĆas.
My head has been hurting for two days.
ā
These three say the same thing!
Option 1 ā desde hace
Estudio espaƱol desde hace dos aƱos.
Option 2 ā haceā¦ que
Hace dos aƱos que estudio espaƱol.
Option 3 ā desde (year)
Estudio espaƱol desde 2022.
All three = “I have been studying Spanish for two years / since 2022.” Native speakers use all three ā pick your favourite!
š
Desde hace vs desde: “Desde 2020” = since 2020 (specific year). “Desde hace dos aƱos” = for two years (a duration, counts back from now). Both say action is still ongoing ā different precision!
Tense guide
Which tense to use with each expression?
The tense you use completely changes the meaning ā especially with hace.
| Expression | Tense required | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| desde + point | Present | Since [point] ā still ongoing |
| desde hace + duration | Present | For [duration] ā still ongoing |
| hace [time] que | Present | For [time] ā still ongoing |
| desde que + clause | Present | Since [event] ā still ongoing |
| verb (past) + hace | Past | [Time] ago ā completed event |
| desde + point (imperfect) | Imperfect | Since [point] ā was ongoing (past context) |
šµ
With imperfect: You can also use these with the imperfect: “VivĆa aquĆ desde 2010” (I had been living here since 2010 ā past, no longer) or “HacĆa tres aƱos que estudiaba” (I had been studying for three years ā at that past moment).
Negative sentences
Negatives with these expressions
In negative sentences, the patterns change slightly. The most common use is with the present perfect or indefinido.
Negative + desde
Haven’t done sinceā¦
No + present perfect + desde + point
“No he dormido bien desde el martes.”
I haven’t slept well since Tuesday.
No + present + desde hace + duration
“No hablo con ella desde hace meses.”
I haven’t spoken to her for months.
Negative + hace
Haven’t forā¦ / It’s beenā¦ since
Hace [time] que + no + present
“Hace dos meses que no la veo.”
I haven’t seen her for two months.
No + verb (past) + desde hace + time
“No como carne desde hace un aƱo.”
I haven’t eaten meat for a year.
š”
Negative key pattern: “Hace X que no + verb” is one of the most natural ways to say “I haven’t ___-ed in X time.” “Hace aƱos que no voy al cine.” = “I haven’t gone to the cinema in years.”
All five in context
š¬ Real sentences ā spot the pattern
Conozco a Ana desde la universidad.
I’ve known Ana since university.
desde + specific starting point
Hace cinco aƱos que no viajo.
I haven’t travelled for five years.
haceā¦ que + present (negative)
Corro cada maƱana desde hace seis meses.
I have been running every morning for six months.
desde hace + duration (ongoing)
Desde que dejƩ de fumar, respiro mejor.
Since I stopped smoking, I breathe better.
desde que + past clause
Se casaron hace diez aƱos.
They got married ten years ago.
past tense + hace = ago (completed)
No hablo con Ć©l desde el verano.
I haven’t spoken to him since the summer.
no + present + desde + point
EmpecĆ© a trabajar aquĆ hace dos semanas.
I started working here two weeks ago.
indefinido + hace = ago
Toca el violĆn desde hace que tiene cuatro aƱos.
She’s been playing violin since she was four.
desde hace (with age reference)
1
Fill in the gap
ā Use desde, hace, desde hace, desde que or haceā¦ que.
tres aƱos que vivo en esta ciudad. haceā¦ que
Estudio chino septiembre. desde + month
No la veo que se fue de vacaciones. desde que + event
ConocĆ a mi mejor amigo veinte aƱos. hace + ago (past)
Trabajo en esa empresa seis meses. desde hace
un aƱo que no como carne. haceā¦ que (negative)
š
2
Identify the expression
ā Select the correct description for the bold expression in each sentence.
Vivo aquĆ desde 2019.
Lo vi hace una semana.
Desde que lleguĆ© aquĆ, todo ha cambiado.
Estudio mĆŗsica desde hace tres aƱos.
Hace un mes que no duermo bien.
ā
3
Correct or Incorrect?
ā Is the expression used correctly in context?
Trabajo aquĆ desde hace tres aƱos.
ā Correct! Desde hace + duration + present verb = I’ve been working here for three years (and still am).
Me fui de vacaciones desde dos semanas.
ā Incorrect! For a duration of time (how long ago), use hace: “Me fui de vacaciones hace dos semanas.” = I went on holiday two weeks ago. Desde requires a specific point in time.
Desde que empecƩ a hacer yoga, duermo mucho mejor.
ā Correct! Desde que + past clause + present result = Since I started doing yoga (event), I sleep much better (ongoing result).
Hace cuƔnto tiempo que estudias espaƱol?
ā Incorrect! The question form with haceā¦ que uses ĀæCuĆ”nto tiempo hace queā¦? The verb comes at the end: “ĀæCuĆ”nto tiempo hace que estudias espaƱol?”
No como azĆŗcar desde hace un mes.
ā Correct! Negative + present + desde hace + duration = I haven’t eaten sugar for a month (and still don’t). Perfect!
Estudiamos juntos hace que Ʃramos niƱos.
ā Incorrect! Hace que is not used with imperfect for “since when we were children.” Use desde que: “Estudiamos juntos desde que Ć©ramos niƱos.”
š
4
Put the words in order
ā Build the sentence using the correct time expression. Click the answer area to undo.
Sentence 1 ā haceā¦ que (duration, ongoing):
Hace
dos
aƱos
que
no
veo
a
mi
familia.
Click words aboveā¦
Sentence 2 ā desde hace (duration from a point):
Vivimos
en
este
barrio
desde
hace
diez
aƱos.
Click words aboveā¦
Sentence 3 ā hace + ago (completed past event):
EmpecƩ
este
trabajo
hace
tres
meses.
Click words aboveā¦
š