I have been studying...

Question

Okay, I've read as many threads as I can find and still need a little clarification. I realize that some of the differences may be regional, so if that's the case, please tell me. Are there differences in the following sentences?

1. Llevo estudiando inglés desde hace 10 años.
2. Llevo 10 años estudiando inglés.
3. Hace 10 años que estudio inglés.
4. Estudio inglés desde hace 10 años.

Thank you for your help! I know that this is a time worn subject, but honestly, I've seen so many different answers that I am now a bit confused.

Answer 1

All the sentences are correct and equivalent; they are just different ways of expressing the same idea. In Spain you will hear them all.

Thank you, Sir Lazarus! - MLucie, Jun 12, 2011

Answer 2

I've never heard the first one here in Ecuador, and we usually leave out the desde in the last one.

Thank you! So, I guess I can forget about "desde". Interesting. - MLucie, Jun 12, 2011

Answer 3

You are correct on all of those.

The only two that could be different are: "...desde hace..." where you can leave "desde" out.

Thank you. I thought "desde" was necessary, but popular opinion seems to prove me wrong. - MLucie, Jun 12, 2011