Hace siete años somos/eramos corresponsales.

Question

What does this phrase translate to in English? And what form of 'to be' should be used (estar or ser)? Thanks x

Answer 1

If she is saying somos then the sentence probably meant to say "we have been correspondents for 7 years." (and still are); and not 7 years ago.

Desde hace siete años que somos.....

perfect - 00494d19, Jul 18, 2010

Answer 2

Hace siete años somos corresponsales. = We have been reporters for seven years.

Hace siete años eramos corresponsales. = Seven years ago, we were reporters.

Just like in English, the meaning is completely different-

Can "fuimos" be used here too? - --Mariana--, Jul 18, 2010

Answer 3

Somos is the present tense of 'ser' so that doesn't fit because you can't say - seven years ago we are .

Hi Marie, no, the sentece is perfectly correct.

Hace dos años que estoy en el foro: I have been on the site for 2 years.

In Spanish we use present simple if we mean to say we are still there and NOT present perfect.

Answer 4

Thanks It is from this video at 3:10. She is reading out a letter and says somos, then eramos.

http://www.teachers.tv/videos/extra-spanish-episode-1-the-arrival-of-sam-spanish-1

sorry i tried to look at the link but because I'm not in the UK I was unable to :( - Kiwi-Girl, Jul 18, 2010

Answer 5

Seven years ago we were correspondents.

Hace siete años fuimos/éramos corresponsales.

Somos is the present tense of 'ser' so that doesn't fit because you can't say - seven years ago we are ...

you would need the preterite or imperfect past of 'ser' fuimos or éramos. Depending on your context.

fuimos: we were

éramos: we used to be

corresponal, reporter!! this answer is not correct marie - 00494d19, Jul 18, 2010