español · B1 · grammar · 4 minutes
Desde, hace, and desde hace
Distinguish a starting point, continuing duration, and time ago.
Understand the choice
Spanish distinguishes a starting point from elapsed duration. Desde points to the start, desde hace measures a period still continuing, and hace + duration can look backward to a finished event.
Core rule: Desde introduces a starting point; desde hace introduces an elapsed duration continuing to now; hace can locate a finished past time.
Notice it in context
Vivo aquí desde 2020 y trabajo aquí desde hace tres años.
I have lived here since 2020 and worked here for three years.
Desde introduces a starting point; desde hace introduces an elapsed duration continuing to now; hace can locate a finished past time.
Llegó hace dos horas.
He arrived two hours ago.
Hace + duration looks back from now.
No nos vemos desde enero.
We have not seen each other since January.
Desde introduces the starting month.
What to remember
- Present tense often covers an action continuing from the past: vivo aquí desde 2020.
- ¿Desde cuándo…? asks for the starting point; ¿cuánto tiempo hace que…? asks for elapsed time.
Common trap: Do not combine desde with an ago-style finished point: desde hace tres años continues to now; hace tres años alone normally places a finished event three years ago.