Hacer in Time Expressions (El uso del verbo hacer con expresiones de tiempo) ¿Cuánto tiempo hace que canta esa nota? . . . . . . . .
In Spanish, special constructions with the verb hacer are used to express the idea that an action began in the past and is still going on in the present. To ask how long a certain action has been continuing, use the following construction. ¿Cuánto (tiempo) hace que + a verb phrase in the present tense? ¿Cuánto tiempo hace que Pepe Romero toca la guitarra? How long has Pepe Romero been playing the guitar? ¿Cuántos minutos hace que esperas la audición? How many minutes have you been waiting for the audition?
In Spanish, special constructions with the verb hacer are used to express the idea that an action began in the past and is still going on in the present. To answer these questions, use these constructions with hacer. hace + a time expression + que + a verb phrase in the present tense Hace más de treinta años que Pepe Romero toca la guitarra. Pepe Romero has been playing the guitar for over thirty years. Note that in Spanish, the verb hacer and the main verb are in the present tense; the English equivalent, however, uses has or have been.
Hacer para referirse a eventos pasados To tell how long ago an action or event occurred in Spanish you will use a similar construction. Hacer will be used in the present tense, but the verb phrase will be in the preterit. When the verb phrase begins the sentence, omit the que. hace + a time expression + que + a verb phrase in the preterit tense or a verb phrase in the preterit tense + hace + a time expression ¿Cuánto tiempo hace que salió para el concierto? How long ago did she leave for the concert? Hace veinte minutos que salió. She left twenty minutes ago. Conocí a Celín Romero en España hace dos años. I met Celín Romero in Spain two years ago.
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