desdevshace
/DEHS-deh/
/AH-seh/
💡 Quick Rule
Desde = 'since' a starting point. Hace = 'ago' for a duration.
Desde has a 'D' for Date (a starting point). Hace has an 'H' for 'How long'.
- For ongoing actions, you can combine them: 'Trabajo aquí desde hace dos años' (I've been working here for two years).
📊 Comparison Table
| Context | desde | hace | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finished Past Event | No lo veo desde el martes. | Lo vi hace dos días. | Desde marks the start point of not seeing him. Hace states the event happened a specific time ago. |
| Ongoing Action (Started in Past) | Trabajo aquí desde enero. | Hace cinco meses que trabajo aquí. | Desde points to the start date (January). Hace describes the total duration (five months). |
| Asking About Time | ¿Desde cuándo vives en Chile? | ¿Cuánto tiempo hace que vives en Chile? | Desde cuándo asks for the starting point. Cuánto tiempo hace asks for the total length of time. |
✅ When to Use "desde" / hace
desde
Since / From (marks a starting point in time or space)
/DEHS-deh/
A specific starting point in time
Vivimos aquí desde 2015.
We've lived here since 2015.
A starting point in space
Caminé desde la playa hasta el hotel.
I walked from the beach to the hotel.
With 'hace' to express duration of an ongoing action
Estudio español desde hace tres años.
I've been studying Spanish for three years.
hace
Ago (describes a duration of time before now)
/AH-seh/
To say how long ago something happened
Comí hace una hora.
I ate an hour ago.
To describe the duration of an ongoing action
Hace tres años que estudio español.
I've been studying Spanish for three years.
In weather expressions
Hace mucho calor hoy.
It's very hot today.
🔄 Contrast Examples
With "desde":
Vivo en Madrid desde 2020.
I've lived in Madrid since 2020.
With "hace":
Me mudé a Madrid hace cuatro años.
I moved to Madrid four years ago.
The Difference: Desde describes an ongoing state that started at a specific point. Hace describes a single, completed action ('moving') that happened a certain amount of time ago.
With "desde":
No fumo desde enero.
I haven't smoked since January.
With "hace":
Hace diez meses que no fumo.
I haven't smoked for ten months.
The Difference: Both sentences mean the same thing. 'Desde' focuses on the start point of the new habit. 'Hace...que' focuses on the total duration you've been doing it.
With "desde":
La conozco desde la universidad.
I've known her since college.
With "hace":
La conozco desde hace más de diez años.
I've known her for more than ten years.
The Difference: This shows the key difference. Use 'desde' for a point in time (college). Use 'desde hace' for a duration of time (ten years).
🎨 Visual Comparison
Desde points to the start of the race. Hace measures how long you've been running.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
Vivo aquí desde cinco años.
Vivo aquí desde hace cinco años.
To use 'desde' with a duration (like 'five years'), you must add 'hace'. 'Desde' alone is for a specific point in time, like 'desde 2018'.
Hace el lunes que no voy al gimnasio.
Desde el lunes no voy al gimnasio.
'El lunes' (Monday) is a specific starting point, not a duration. For starting points, you must use 'desde'.
📚 Related Grammar
Want to understand the grammar behind this pair? Explore these lessons for a deep dive:
🏷️ Key Words
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: Desde vs Hace
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence is correct to say 'I arrived two hours ago'?
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I say 'Hace dos años, vivo aquí'?
No, that's a common mistake. If the action is still happening, you need the structure 'Hace dos años que vivo aquí' or 'Vivo aquí desde hace dos años'. If the action is finished, you'd use the preterite: 'Hace dos años, viví en otro país' (Two years ago, I lived in another country).
What's the difference between 'desde hace' and 'hace...que'?
Functionally, they mean the same thing and are often interchangeable. 'Vivo aquí desde hace un año' and 'Hace un año que vivo aquí' both mean 'I've been living here for a year'. The choice is mostly a matter of style or what you want to emphasize.
Does 'hace' always relate to time?
No, 'hace' is a form of the verb 'hacer' (to do/make). It has many uses, including weather expressions like 'hace frío' (it's cold) and 'hace sol' (it's sunny). However, when you see it paired with a time expression, it almost always means 'ago' or is used to describe duration.