More time expressions

Question

I have been working on time expressions using Hacer and picked up quite a lot from a previous post.

Does "Hace tres o cuatro horas qué están trabajando" translate as "they were working for three or four hours"

Thanks

están trabajando is not going to mean "were working" - 0074b507, Nov 28, 2011

the present tense with these phrases is usually translated as "have been+present participle" - 0074b507, Nov 28, 2011

Well, it might translate better as "have been working", but I think we get the idea. - Jeremias, Nov 28, 2011

or some form of the present perfect - 0074b507, Nov 28, 2011

I was actually thinking of have been but went for the other posibility. Thanks - caza, Nov 28, 2011

Answer 1

qué is used for asking que is the pronoun. If you replace "qué" by "que" your transltation will be perfect.

Typo! I took the expression from a reading book. Thanks - caza, Nov 28, 2011

Answer 2

The difference between They have been working and They were working is the connotation about whether the action has ended at some time in the past or whether it continues into the present. See this article contrasting the use of the the preterite and present tense with the hace+time expression+que....

They were working for 3 or four hours does not mean that they still are. They have been working for 3 or 4 hours is used when they still presently are working.

Thanks for the link - caza, Nov 28, 2011

Answer 3

When I see "hace" I always think "ago"

Am I wrong to do so?

hacer + time expression

The verb Hacer can be used to express "how long" you have been doing something

The verb Hacer also is used to express the concept of "ago."

Answer 4

When I see "hace" I always think "ago"

Am I wrong to do so?

No, it is commonly used to mean "ago" - 0074b507, Nov 28, 2011

Answer 5

Yes... you could also say,

Llevan trabajando 3 o 4 horas.

Thank you - I'll go down that route another day1 - caza, Nov 28, 2011