To to talk about an action or event that started in the past but is still ongoing in the present, for example, that you have done something for + [duration], you use:
Hace + [length of time] + que + action in El Presente
Have a look and listen to these examples:
Hace 3 meses que Nuria vive en California.
Nuria has lived in California for 3 months.
Hace algunos días que tengo dolor de cabeza.
I've had a headache for a few days.
Hace un mes que estudio español en la academia.
I have been studying Spanish at the academy for a month.
Hace una semana que no veo a Marcos.
I haven't seen Marcos for a week.
Be careful, because this structure needs to be placed at the beginning of the sentence as shown in the examples above.
Trabajo en este supermercado hace 3 años que.
Hace 3 años que trabajo en este supermercado.
I have worked in this supermarket for 3 years.
Hace dos años que no fumo (que no he fumado)
Learn more about these related Spanish grammar topics
Examples and resources
Hace 3 meses que Nuria vive en California.
Nuria has lived in California for 3 months.
Hace una semana que no veo a Marcos.
I haven't seen Marcos for a week.
Hace un mes que estudio español en la academia.
I have been studying Spanish at the academy for a month.
Hace algunos días que tengo dolor de cabeza.
I've had a headache for a few days.
Emanuel
Kwiziq community member
7 May 2019
2 replies
So this is another way of expresing what we have learned on level A2 with desde hace ... plus Presente
Emanuel
Kwiziq community member
7 May 2019
7/05/19
You could include a multiple choice in the test including both possibilities...
Inma
Kwiziq language super star
7 May 2019
7/05/19
Hola Emanuel
Yes, it is an alternative to the other structure "Verb in the present + desde hace [length of time]".
We haven't included all the information in just one lesson because the structure starting with "Hace" is a bit more advance, but we made sure we linked both lessons.
Saludos
Inma