Level 3 — Intermediate (CEFR: B1)
Unit 9 — Expanding the Present
Lesson 4 — Hace + Time
Lesson Overview
Level: 3 — Intermediate Unit: 9 — Expanding the Present Lesson: 4 of 5 Estimated Time: 45–60 minutes
What this lesson covers:
- Two core hace + time constructions and their English equivalents
- Structure 1: Hace + time + que + present → “has been doing for”
- Structure 2: Preterite + hace + time → “did ago”
- The curriculum key sentences applied and extended
- Ministry applications: introductions, testimonies, mission reports
- Rendering these constructions instantly in both directions
Two Constructions, Two Meanings
Hace + time builds two completely different meanings depending on the verb tense used with it.
Structure 1: Duration Up to the Present
Hace + time + que + present tense
This means: the action began in the past and continues to the present. It corresponds to “have/has been doing for” in English, or “for + time period.”
From the curriculum: Hace tres años que vivo aquí. — I have been living here for three years. / I have lived here for three years.
The action of living is ongoing — it started three years ago and continues now. The present tense (vivo) confirms it is still happening.
Alternative word order (equally common): Vivo aquí hace tres años. — I have been living here for three years.
Both structures express the same meaning.
Additional examples:
Hace diez años que sirvo en esta iglesia. — I have been serving in this church for ten years. Hace dos meses que estamos construyendo la capilla. — We have been building the chapel for two months. ¿Cuánto tiempo hace que vives en esta comunidad? — How long have you been living in this community? Hace veinte años que el pastor dirige este ministerio. — The pastor has been leading this ministry for twenty years. Hace tres días que están orando y ayunando. — They have been praying and fasting for three days.
Structure 2: Time Elapsed Since a Completed Event
Preterite + hace + time (or Hace + time + que + preterite)
This means: the action happened in the past, a specific amount of time ago. It corresponds to “did + ago” in English.
From the curriculum: Llegué hace dos semanas. — I arrived two weeks ago.
The action of arriving is completed. It happened two weeks in the past and is done. The preterite (llegué) confirms it is not ongoing.
Additional examples:
Me convertí a Cristo hace quince años. — I came to faith fifteen years ago. El misionero llegó hace tres días y ya está predicando. — The missionary arrived three days ago and is already preaching. ¿Hace cuánto tiempo se bautizaron? — How long ago were they baptized? Se casaron hace dos años en esta iglesia. — They got married two years ago in this church. Plantamos esa iglesia hace cinco años. — We planted that church five years ago.
The Contrast in a Single Testimony
Llegué a esta ciudad hace diez años. — I arrived in this city ten years ago. [preterite + hace = event in the past] Hace diez años que sirvo aquí. — I have been serving here for ten years. [present + hace que = ongoing duration]
These two sentences are often paired in personal introductions and ministry reports. The interpreter must render each correctly:
- Event that happened: “I arrived X ago”
- Duration still active: “I have been here for X” or “I’ve been serving for X”
Hace with the Imperfect: Past Duration (Preview)
A third construction — more advanced — uses the imperfect for actions that were ongoing for a period up to a past point:
Hacía tres años que vivía allí cuando llegaron los misioneros. — He had been living there for three years when the missionaries arrived.
This construction (covered more fully at Level 4) uses the imperfect rather than the present. Recognize it in live speech; it means “had been doing for X time.”
Question Forms
¿Cuánto tiempo hace que…? — How long have you been…? (with present) ¿Hace cuánto + preterite? — How long ago did…? (with preterite) ¿Cuánto tiempo llevas + gerund? — How long have you been…? (alternate construction using llevar)
Common ministry questions using hace:
¿Cuánto tiempo hace que eres creyente? — How long have you been a believer? ¿Hace cuánto tiempo te convertiste? — How long ago did you convert? ¿Cuánto tiempo hace que sirves en este ministerio? — How long have you been serving in this ministry? ¿Hace cuánto llegaste a esta comunidad? — How long ago did you arrive in this community?
Ministry Sentences: Combined Contexts
Personal introduction: Me llamo Roberto. Llegué a Cristo hace doce años. Hace ocho años que sirvo como pastor aquí. Llegué a esta comunidad hace cuatro años cuando sentí el llamado a plantar una iglesia.
Interpretation: My name is Roberto. I came to Christ twelve years ago. I have been serving as pastor here for eight years. I arrived in this community four years ago when I felt the call to plant a church.
Mission report: Hace tres meses que estamos en esta región. Llegamos hace tres meses con el evangelio y pocas relaciones. Hace dos semanas comenzamos a ver los primeros frutos. El primer creyente se convirtió hace once días.
Interpretation: We have been in this region for three months. We arrived three months ago with the gospel and few relationships. Two weeks ago we began to see the first fruits. The first believer converted eleven days ago.
Pastoral testimony: Empecé a dudar de Dios hace cinco años. Fue una temporada muy oscura. Hace dos años encontré la respuesta en la Palabra. Hace un año que vivo con paz.
Interpretation: I started doubting God five years ago. It was a very dark season. Two years ago I found the answer in the Word. I have been living with peace for a year.
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1 — Structure Identification
A partner reads sentences. You identify which hace structure is being used (ongoing duration or past event):
Hace diez años que predica en esa iglesia. → ongoing duration Se bautizó hace tres meses. → past event Llegamos hace dos semanas. → past event Hace un año que somos parte de esta comunidad. → ongoing duration ¿Cuánto tiempo hace que crees en Cristo? → ongoing duration question Se comprometió con el ministerio hace seis meses. → past event
Exercise 2 — Rendering in Both Directions
Spanish to English: Hace cinco años que sirvo aquí. → “I have been serving here for five years.” Llegué hace dos meses. → “I arrived two months ago.” ¿Cuánto tiempo hace que eres cristiano? → “How long have you been a Christian?” Plantamos esta iglesia hace diez años. → “We planted this church ten years ago.”
English to Spanish: “I have been living here for three years.” → Hace tres años que vivo aquí. / Vivo aquí hace tres años. “He arrived two weeks ago.” → Llegó hace dos semanas. “How long ago did you convert?” → ¿Hace cuánto tiempo te convertiste? “We have been serving in this community for five years.” → Hace cinco años que servimos en esta comunidad.
Exercise 3 — Ministry Introduction Production
Produce a 5–6 sentence ministry self-introduction using at least two hace constructions (one ongoing, one past event). Deliver it as if addressing a new congregation.
Exercise 4 — Timed Rendering
A partner reads 10 hace + time sentences in rapid succession. You render each into English. Count how many you render correctly and naturally before the next sentence begins. Target: 8/10.
Key Takeaways for This Lesson
Before moving to Lesson 5:
- Hace + time + que + present = “has been doing for” (ongoing, still happening)
- Preterite + hace + time = “did X ago” (completed, specific point in the past)
- The verb tense tells you which structure: present = ongoing, preterite = past event
- Questions: ¿Cuánto tiempo hace que…? (how long have you been) vs. ¿Hace cuánto…? (how long ago)
- These constructions appear constantly in ministry introductions, testimonies, and reports
Daily Practice
Each day, produce one sentence of each type about your actual life:
Hace [time] que [present verb — something still ongoing in your faith life]. [Preterite verb] hace [time] — something that happened a specific time ago.
These two daily sentences build the muscle memory for both constructions and prevent the common error of mixing them.