Phrases

Question 1

Phrases to express duration in the present tense indicative - ‘for’

Answer 1

• Hace + tiempo + que + verbo (present)
  eg. Hace diez annos que no la veo = i have not seen her for ten years
• Verbo (present) + desde hace +tiempo
  eg. Te esperamos desde hace horas = we have been waiting for you for hours
• Llevar (present) + gerund + tiempo
  eg. Lleva estudiando alemán tres annos = He has been studying German for three years

Question 2

Phrases to express duration in the past tense indicative - ‘for’ - use imperfect tense

Answer 2

• Hacía + tiempo + que +verbo (imperfect)
  eg. Hacía diez annos que no la veía = I had not seen her for ten years
• Verbo (imperfect) + desde hacía + tiempo
  eg. Te esperábamos desde hacía horas = we had been waiting for you for hours
• Llevar (imperfect) + gerund + tiempo
  eg. Llevaba estudiando alemán tres annos = He had been studying German for three years.