Ask a Question(Create a thread) |
|
Help with 'hace' in time expressionsAsk about definitions or translations for Spanish or English words. |
![]() |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
||||
|
||||
Help with 'hace' in time expressions
I'm having problems with these sentences.
Hace tres años que esperamos una respuesta. Esperamos una respuesta hace tres años. Esperamos una respuesta desde hace tres años. I know they all mean "we have been waiting for an answer for three years", but why is hacer used here? I don't get it. ![]() |
Get rid of these ads by registering for a free Tomísimo account.
|
#2
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
You need to focus on the whole expression, rather than individual words. Hace = it makes, so where English says I've been waiting for a long time, Spanish would say (literally) It makes a long time that I wait: Hace mucho rato que espero. Notice that the English perfect tense is not actually obvious - it is action in the past, but still continuing in the present. A present tense is more logical, and in fact it is English which is out of line with other languages here. Does that help? |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Hi!
I'm afraid "hacer" is one of those words that is used in a whole load of Spanish expressions that simply cannot be translated word for word into English. In your example the closest you can get to an English equivalent is the word "ago" (but only in this expression involving time). In these instances, the only thing I can suggest is that you do not think of "hacer" as meaning "to do/make" but learn/use the whole Spanish expression until it becomes second nature. It will start to sound normal after using it for a short while, I promise. See this link http://www.123teachme.com/learn_span...oms_with_hacer which gives all sorts of other everyday examples of other Spanish expressions that use the verb "hacer" but cannot be translated word for word: "Hace tres años" (3 years ago) "Hace caso a la profesora" (He pays attention to the teacher) "Hace cola en el banco" (He queues/stands in line at the bank) "Hace daño" (It damages/hurts) "Hace buen tiempo" (The weather is good) It is simply not possible to translate word for word. In foreign languages, things are often just said differently. All you can do is learn the whole expression! Another verb that is often used in Spanish expressions that cannot be translated word for word into English is tener. Again, the best thing to do with expressions like this is to learn the whole expression rather than the individual words. http://www.123teachme.com/learn_span...oms_with_tener I hope this helps. |
#4
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
|
![]() |
Link to this thread | |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
![]() |
||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Foreign mistakes using English expressions | JPablo | General Chat | 29 | December 16, 2011 01:51 PM |
Expressions-- How to say these in Spanish? | Ashis | Idioms & Sayings | 3 | October 19, 2010 07:24 AM |
Spanish expressions for time | laepelba | Grammar | 20 | January 24, 2010 04:04 AM |
Me cago en... Common expressions in Spain and Cuba | Villa | Idioms & Sayings | 3 | September 27, 2009 08:40 AM |
hace, eh? | ElDanés | Grammar | 6 | September 16, 2008 06:24 PM |