hace + timevsdesde hace
/AH-seh/
/DEHS-deh AH-seh/
💡 Quick Rule
Use 'hace' for 'ago' (a finished action). Use 'desde hace' for 'for' (an ongoing action).
Think: 'hace' is a snapshot in the past. 'desde hace' is a video that's still playing.
- The structure 'hace que' often means the same as 'desde hace'. For example, 'Hace un año que vivo aquí' is the same as 'Vivo aquí desde hace un año'.
📊 Comparison Table
| Context | hace + time | desde hace | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Living somewhere | Me mudé aquí hace dos años. | Vivo aquí desde hace dos años. | 'Hace' for the single past event (moving). 'Desde hace' for the ongoing state (living). |
| Studying Spanish | Empecé a estudiar hace un año. | Estudio español desde hace un año. | 'Hace' points to the start date. 'Desde hace' describes the whole duration up to now. |
| A recent event | Llegó hace cinco minutos. | Está aquí desde hace cinco minutos. | 'Hace' marks the moment of arrival. 'Desde hace' marks the duration of their presence. |
✅ When to Use "hace + time" / desde hace
hace + time
Used to say how long AGO something happened. It points to a single, completed event in the past.
/AH-seh/
A completed action in the past
Compré mi coche hace dos años.
I bought my car two years ago.
Talking about events that are finished
La película terminó hace diez minutos.
The movie ended ten minutes ago.
Pinpointing when something started
Empecé a trabajar aquí hace un mes.
I started working here a month ago.
desde hace
Used to say FOR how long an action has been happening and is still continuing into the present.
/DEHS-deh AH-seh/
An action that started in the past and continues now
Vivo en Madrid desde hace cinco años.
I have been living in Madrid for five years.
Describing the duration of a current state
Estamos esperando desde hace una hora.
We have been waiting for an hour.
Answering '¿desde cuándo?' (since when?)
Trabajo aquí desde hace seis meses.
I've worked here for six months.
🔄 Contrast Examples
With "hace + time":
Conseguí este trabajo hace un año.
I got this job one year ago.
With "desde hace":
Trabajo aquí desde hace un año.
I have been working here for one year.
The Difference: 'Hace' pinpoints a single past event (getting the job). 'Desde hace' describes the duration of an ongoing action (working here).
With "hace + time":
Conocí a María hace diez años.
I met María ten years ago.
With "desde hace":
Conozco a María desde hace diez años.
I have known María for ten years.
The Difference: 'Hace' is for the moment you met (a finished action in the preterite). 'Desde hace' is for the entire period you have known her (an ongoing state in the present).
🎨 Visual Comparison
Split-screen cartoon showing 'hace' as a past event vs 'desde hace' as an ongoing action.
'Hace' marks a point in the past ('ago'). 'Desde hace' measures a duration that continues to the present ('for').
⚠️ Common Mistakes
Vivo en Perú hace tres años.
Vivo en Perú desde hace tres años.
When an action is still happening ('I live'), use 'desde hace' to talk about its duration. 'Hace' is for finished actions, like 'I moved' (`Me mudé`).
Compré mi teléfono desde hace un mes.
Compré mi teléfono hace un mes.
Buying the phone was a one-time event in the past. Use 'hace' to say it happened 'a month ago'.
📚 Related Grammar
Want to understand the grammar behind this pair? Explore these lessons for a deep dive:
🏷️ Key Words
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: Hace vs Desde Hace
Question 1 of 2
Which is correct? 'Me gradué de la universidad ___ cinco años.'
🏷️ Tags
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'desde hace' use the present tense in Spanish but English uses 'have been'?
This is a key difference between the languages. Spanish expresses an ongoing action that started in the past with the simple present tense + 'desde hace'. English uses the present perfect continuous ('I have been living'). It's a structure you just have to memorize: Present Tense + 'desde hace' + time.
What's the difference between 'desde hace' and just 'desde'?
'Desde hace' is followed by a duration of time ('desde hace tres años' - for three years). 'Desde' is followed by a specific point in time ('desde 2021' - since 2021). Both describe ongoing actions, but one measures a duration and the other names the starting point.