verb tense used in "hace .....que" and " desde hace"

Question

In the following sentences, "tiempo presente" and " tiempo perfecto" can be used with the phrase with "hace...que.." and " desde hace" . Is there any rule to tell me when to use" tiempo presente" o "tiempo perfecto"?

1. Hace diez días que está resfriado. Hace una hora que se ha casado.

2. Estoy ahorrando dinero desde hace diez anos. No he visto a mis padres desde hace un año.

Thank you!

Answer 1

Here is an article on hace time expressions using the Present Tense.

Hace+time expression+future tense

Preterite+hace+time expressions

You examples show the present tense and the present continuous tense. What do you mean by tiempo perfecto? To me that is preterite tense (pretérito perfecto simple). Oops. I see it. We are discussing pretérito perfecto compuesto (present perfect tense in English). So "tiempo perfecto" would be Perfect (compound) tenses? I'm not sure that is exactly compatible with Spanish as they have a "perfected" past tense that is not compound (uses the auxiliary verb haber).

You might also wish to look at this article. Beyond contrasting hace+time+present or preterite it discusses other time expression like llevar and using por and para with time expressions.

For in time expressions

I see that I never really answered you original question concerning the present tense and the present perfect tense. This could better be explained by a native. I just want to point out that the hace+time expression+present tense is often translated using the present perfect tense in English.

Hace un año que estudio español. (present tense)

I have been studying Spanish for one year.

• That's a great site too! - JoshuaBelden Sep 1, 2010

Answer 2

Is there any rule to tell me when to use" tiempo presente" o "tiempo perfecto"?

You use the present to express how long something has been going on... ending in the present moment. Eg. I have been reading for an hour (ie. I've finished just NOW)

You use the past to express how long something had been going on... ending at some point in the a past. Eg. I had been reading (ie. I finished at some point in the PAST)