Ask a Question

(Create a thread)
Go Back   Spanish language learning forums > Spanish & English Languages > Vocabulary > Idioms & Sayings


Hacer mucho

 

An idiom is an expression whose meaning is not readily apparent based on the individual words in the expression. This forum is dedicated to discussing idioms and other sayings.


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old March 30, 2009, 06:58 AM
poli's Avatar
poli poli is offline
rule 1: gravity
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: In and around New York
Posts: 7,810
Native Language: English
poli will become famous soon enoughpoli will become famous soon enough
Hacer mucho

I know that hace frio means it's cold out and hace mucho generally means
produces a lot, but I have seen written texts where hace mucho
has other meanings like in the phrase hace mucho que no tomo el sol.
Can someone clarifiy hace mucho's meanings for me? Thank you.
__________________
Me ayuda si corrige mis errores. Gracias.
Reply With Quote
   
Get rid of these ads by registering for a free Tomísimo account.
  #2  
Old March 30, 2009, 07:24 AM
Rusty's Avatar
Rusty Rusty is offline
Señor Speedy
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 11,299
Native Language: American English
Rusty has a spectacular aura aboutRusty has a spectacular aura about
Hace is used in time expressions, in addition to several other uses (some of which you mentioned). The last example you gave is an expression of time.

In English, we express that in terms of "How long it has been." In Spanish, we express that in terms of "How long it makes." The formula is hace + length of time + present tense verb. The length of time can be an adverb or an adverbial phrase.
For example:
Hace mucho que no nos vemos. (It's been awhile since we've seen each other.)
Hace tres años que vivo en Los Ángeles. (I've lived in Los Angeles for three years.)
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old March 30, 2009, 07:34 AM
Fazor's Avatar
Fazor Fazor is offline
Emerald
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Middle of Ohio, USA
Posts: 626
Native Language: American English
Fazor is on a distinguished road
So the example sentence, 'Hace mucho que no tomo el sol' would mean it's been a long time since I've gotten sun? The 'tomo' is what's throwing me off, as the only way I know to conjugate that is "since I took the sun"; but I'm guessing that means 'been out in'?
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old March 30, 2009, 07:40 AM
Ambarina's Avatar
Ambarina Ambarina is offline
Emerald
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: 43º 12' 0 N 4º 49' 0 W
Posts: 837
Native Language: Español
Ambarina is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fazor View Post
So the example sentence, 'Hace mucho que no tomo el sol' would mean it's been a long time since I've gotten sun? The 'tomo' is what's throwing me off, as the only way I know to conjugate that is "since I took the sun"; but I'm guessing that means 'been out in'?
Generally when you say "Tomar el sol" you mean "sunbathe". At least in Spain it does.
Hace mucho que no me da el sol - It's been a long time since I've been out in the sun.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old March 30, 2009, 07:41 AM
Fazor's Avatar
Fazor Fazor is offline
Emerald
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Middle of Ohio, USA
Posts: 626
Native Language: American English
Fazor is on a distinguished road
Okay. I figured it was something along those lines, but tomar seems to be one of those words that's used in many different ways and in many different idioms.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old March 30, 2009, 07:47 AM
poli's Avatar
poli poli is offline
rule 1: gravity
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: In and around New York
Posts: 7,810
Native Language: English
poli will become famous soon enoughpoli will become famous soon enough
Thanks Rusty. What threw me off in hace (tiempo) mucho que no tomo sol was the fact that tiempo was left out. Now I know that you can leave tiempo out of it and still be understood
__________________
Me ayuda si corrige mis errores. Gracias.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old March 30, 2009, 08:49 AM
chileno's Avatar
chileno chileno is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Las Vegas, USA
Posts: 7,863
Native Language: Castellano
chileno is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by poli View Post
Thanks Rusty. What threw me off in hace (tiempo) mucho que no tomo sol was the fact that tiempo was left out. Now I know that you can leave tiempo out of it and still be understood
Funny! As it is exactly the same situation with "How long ..." for Spanish speaking, when learning English.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old March 30, 2009, 04:45 PM
Tomisimo's Avatar
Tomisimo Tomisimo is offline
Davidísimo
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: North America
Posts: 5,664
Native Language: American English
Tomisimo will become famous soon enoughTomisimo will become famous soon enough
Quote:
Originally Posted by poli View Post
Thanks Rusty. What threw me off in hace (tiempo) mucho que no tomo sol was the fact that tiempo was left out. Now I know that you can leave tiempo out of it and still be understood
Yes,

Hace mucho que ...
Hace mucho tiempo que ...
Hace tiempo que ...

are equivalent.
__________________
If you find something wrong with my Spanish, please correct it!
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old March 30, 2009, 07:40 PM
CrOtALiTo's Avatar
CrOtALiTo CrOtALiTo is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Mérida, Yucatán
Posts: 11,686
Native Language: I can understand Spanish and English
CrOtALiTo is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rusty View Post
Hace is used in time expressions, in addition to several other uses (some of which you mentioned). The last example you gave is an expression of time.

In English, we express that in terms of "How long it has been." In Spanish, we express that in terms of "How long it makes." The formula is hace + length of time + present tense verb. The length of time can be an adverb or an adverbial phrase.
For example:
Hace mucho que no nos vemos. (It's been awhile since we've seen each other.)
Hace tres años que vivo en Los Ángeles. (I've lived in Los Angeles for three years.)
Then you leave me understand this because is very important have clear this phrase.

The word Hace mucho does not exist at English?
__________________
We are building the most important dare for my life and my family feature now we are installing new services in telecoms.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old March 30, 2009, 08:55 PM
Rusty's Avatar
Rusty Rusty is offline
Señor Speedy
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 11,299
Native Language: American English
Rusty has a spectacular aura aboutRusty has a spectacular aura about
Quote:
Originally Posted by CrOtALiTo View Post
Then you leave me understand this because is very important have clear this phrase.

The word Hace mucho does not exist at English?
The phrase hace mucho (que) can be translated into English as it's been awhile (since). I mentioned this above.

Hace mucho que no nos vemos.
= It's been awhile since we've seen each other.
Reply With Quote
Reply

 

Link to this thread
URL: 
HTML Link: 
BB Code: 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Site Rules

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
A mí me gusta español mucho Danuta Introductions 15 March 09, 2009 03:40 AM
Hacer perdir tu tiempo soyricogringo Translations 9 November 17, 2008 01:59 AM
Hacer hincapié lblanco Idioms & Sayings 26 November 15, 2008 06:46 PM
Me cojió mucho aprecio silopanna Idioms & Sayings 26 May 21, 2008 12:50 PM
Hacer - Did? Used to? Help! bleitzow Grammar 1 November 16, 2007 10:01 PM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:41 AM.

Forum powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

X