Desde vs. Hace vs. Desde Hace
English has three words for these ideas: since, ago, and for. Spanish has three expressions too, and each one answers a different question. The trick is to ask yourself whether you are pointing to a date, counting back from now, or measuring how long something has lasted.
Quick answer
- Desde + a starting point = since: Vivo aquí desde 2020.
- Hace + time = ago: Llegué hace dos años.
- Desde hace + time = for: Vivo aquí desde hace dos años.
Desde: since a point in time
Use desde with a date, a day, or an event. It points to where the time started. The verb is usually in the present when the action continues.
Examples
- Vivo en México desde 2019.I have lived in Mexico since 2019.A year.
- Estudio español desde enero.I have studied Spanish since January.A month.
- Trabajo aquí desde que llegué.I have worked here since I arrived.An event.
Hace: time ago
Hace + a length of time counts back from now. It is used with finished actions, so the verb is usually in the preterite.
Examples
- Llegué hace dos años.I arrived two years ago.Finished action.
- Mi abuelo me llamó hace una hora.My grandfather called me an hour ago.Finished action.
- Hace tres meses que no lo veo.I have not seen him for three months.Hace + time + que + present.
Desde hace: for a length of time
Desde hace + a length of time says how long something has been going on. It is the Spanish way to say "for two years" when the action continues. English uses the present perfect, but Spanish uses the present.
Examples
- Vivo aquí desde hace dos años.I have lived here for two years.Still true now.
- Estudia inglés desde hace tres meses.She has studied English for three months.Still studying.
- Hace dos años que vivo aquí.I have lived here for two years.Same meaning, different order.
Quick comparison
Look at one sentence changing only the time word.
| Question | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Since when? | Vivo aquí desde 2020. | I have lived here since 2020. |
| How long? | Vivo aquí desde hace dos años. | I have lived here for two years. |
| How long ago? | Llegué hace dos años. | I arrived two years ago. |
Spanish around the world
- All three expressions work the same across Latin America and Spain. In conversation, hace ... que is very common: Hace mucho que no te veía. (I have not seen you in a long time.)
Common mistakes
Incorrect: Vivo aquí desde dos años.
Correct: Vivo aquí desde hace dos años.
A length of time needs desde hace.
Incorrect: He vivido aquí por dos años.
Correct: Vivo aquí desde hace dos años.
For an ongoing situation Spanish uses the present.
Incorrect: Llegué desde dos años.
Correct: Llegué hace dos años.
A finished action uses hace.
Incorrect: Vivo aquí hace 2020.
Correct: Vivo aquí desde 2020.
A date needs desde.
Remember the pattern
- A date or event: desde.
- How long something has lasted: desde hace.
- How long ago something finished: hace.
Mini practice
5 quick questions. You get feedback right after each answer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between desde and desde hace?
Desde points to a start (a date or event). Desde hace measures how long something has lasted.
Does hace always mean ago?
Yes when it follows a finished action. In Hace dos años que vivo aquí it works like "for."
Why does Spanish use the present for desde hace?
Because the action is still going on, Spanish uses the present, not the present perfect.
Can I use por instead of desde hace?
For a finished stretch of time, yes: Viví allí por dos años. For something still true now, use desde hace.
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