How to Say "Ago" in Spanish
Expressing Time Past: How to Say "Ago" in Spanish
When recounting events in the past, the English word "ago" is a cornerstone of expressing the duration of time that has elapsed. In Spanish, this concept is conveyed by the word "hace". Let's break down how to use "hace" to express "ago" and ensure your past-tense storytelling in Spanish is as clear as it is in English.
The Basic Structure
In English, "ago" follows the time period: "two years ago". In Spanish, the structure is reversed:
Hace + [time period] + que + [past tense verb]
or simply Hace + [time period]
For example:
"Two years ago, I went to Spain." becomes "Hace dos años, fui a España."
"I met her a week ago." becomes "La conocí hace una semana."
Without "Que"
When skipping the action and focusing only on the time elapsed, "que" is omitted:
Hace + [time period]
For example:
"Three days ago." becomes "Hace tres días."
With "Que"
To emphasize the action along with the time, use "que":
Hace + [time period] + que + [present tense verb]
This structure implies that the action has been ongoing since the time stated. It translates to "It has been [time period] since [action]".
For example:
"It has been two years since I went to Spain." becomes "Hace dos años que fui a España."
Examples in Context
Let's look at more examples to understand the use of "hace" in various contexts:
"I moved to Mexico five years ago." — "Me mudé a México hace cinco años."
"She started learning Spanish six months ago." — "Ella empezó a aprender español hace seis meses."
"We last saw each other a year ago." — "Nos vimos por última vez hace un año."
Remember the Nuances
Time Expression: When the time expression comes before the verb, use "hace". When it comes after, use "desde hace":
"I haven't seen him in two years." can be "No lo he visto hace dos años." or "No lo he visto desde hace dos años."
Negative Form: When forming negative sentences with "ago", "hace" is often replaced with "desde hace":
"I haven't eaten sushi in a month." — "No he comido sushi desde hace un mes."
Conclusion
Understanding how to express "ago" in Spanish with "hace" is a straightforward process that will significantly enhance your ability to communicate past events. With practice, the reversal of the time phrase structure from English to Spanish will become second nature. And remember, the more you immerse yourself in the language, the easier it becomes to feel the rhythm of these temporal expressions.
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