"desde hace unos dias " es en presente simple?

Question

which the following sentences is correct ? " Desde hace unos días noto un dolor muy fuerte en el pecho." or " Desde hace unos días estoy notando un dolor muy fuerte en el pecho." Gracias por su ayuda!

Answer 1

Both are correct but the first one is present simple, the second is progressive I think.

Answer 2

I'm not an expert but I looked this up as a review for myself. I did not see examples using the gerund (notando), but I can say it looks like you need a "que" between the desde phrase and the conjugated verb. It serves to say "since or that." And when using the present tense verb I don't think you use desde.

Hace unos días que noto un dolor muy fuerte en el pecho.

It has been a few days that I've been noticing/feeling a very strong pain in my chest.

The tense of the verb changes the meaning. If you use the preterite tense then it means that you noticed the pain a few days ago, but it has not been ongoing.

Hace unos días que noté un dolor muy fuerte en el pecho.

It was a few days ago that I noticed/felt a strong pain in my chest.

Since there are subleties involved, and I'm not sure about the gerund or the use of desde, could you please post in English what you are trying to say exactly and maybe one of our natives or advanced speakers can help you say it accurately.

It could be correct but the word "Desde" changes" the sense of the sentence, and makes weird the usage od the word "que". - Dakie, Feb 15, 2011

With desde and no que does it mean, "It has been a few days I've been noticing/feeling a strong pain in my chest?" - happyquilter, Feb 15, 2011

I really wish I knew (in english) what they were trying to convey. Then it would be easier to translate properly. - happyquilter, Feb 15, 2011