Ch 18 · Lesson 17Spanish · Chapter 18 · Lesson 17 · Grammar primer
Hace dos horas: saying ago
With a past verb, means ago: . The tense decides, not the word.
The short version
.
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The same means ago when the verb is in the past and the action is over: (I arrived two hours ago). With a present verb it means for: (I' been waiting for two hours). The tense decides, not the word .
Ago: hace + a past verb
The same means ago when the verb is in the past and the action is over:
.- I arrived two hours ago..- I saw her a week ago.Madrid.- A year ago I went to Madrid..- We finished a moment ago.
The tense of the verb decides, not the word :
| Verb | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| present | . | I' been waiting for an hour. |
| past | . | I arrived an hour ago. |
A past verb can also take the ... order, still meaning ago:
.- He/she arrived an hour ago.¿ ?- How long ago did you arrive?
Mistakes English speakers make
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
| ... | . | for a stretch: |
| a length takes | |
| 2020 | 2020 | a point takes |
| ... | . | you still live there: the present |
. | ago is plain |
Going further: For, since and ago at a glance and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
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