desde hace / desde que
for (time) / since
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for (time) / since
desde hace + duration with a present verb: Vivo aquí desde hace dos años. desde que + a clause: Desde que llegó, está contenta. hace + duration + que is the same idea: Hace dos años que vivo aquí.
Examples in context
Read the examples and compare their English meanings.
Duration of Ongoing Action
Use desde hace plus a time duration.
Vivo aquí desde hace tres años.
I have been living here for three years.
Starting Point of a Situation
Use desde que followed by a clause.
Desde que llegó, todo es diferente.
Ever since he arrived, everything is different.
Common mix-ups
English speakers often use 'por' for duration, but ongoing actions starting in the past require 'desde hace' with the present tense.
I have been living here for three years.
Try a reply
Say or write your answer in Spanish before opening the example.
I have been working here for six months.
Show one possible answer
Trabajo aquí desde hace seis meses.
Other wording can work too. Compare the verb form, agreement, and word order with the lesson. Then try a sentence about your own day.
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