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"Antes" is a form of "antes", an adverb which is often translated as "before". "Hace un rato" is a phrase which is often translated as "a while ago". Learn more about the difference between "antes" and "hace un rato" below.
antes(
ahn
-
tehs
)An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or other adverbs (e.g., to run quickly, very tired).
1. (time)
2. (location)
a. before
Descubrí quién era el asesino diez páginas antes del final.I discovered who the murderer was ten pages before the end.
Me bajo una parada antes que la tuya.I get off one stop before yours.
A conjunction is a word that connects words, phrases, clauses, or sentences (e.g., The cat and the dog slept.).
3. (preference)
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
4. (precedent)
a. before
Tenemos que preparar la reunión el día antes.We have to prepare the meeting the day before.
hace un rato(
ah
-
seh
oon
rrah
-
toh
)A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
a. a while ago
¿No estabas viendo una película? - Hace un rato que acabó.Weren't you watching a movie? - It finished a while ago.
b. some time ago
¿Pasó ya el cartero? - Sí, hace un rato.Has the postman come yet? - Yes, some time ago.
a. for a while now
Hace un rato que espero a Carlota. Si no aparece en cinco minutos, me voy.I've been waiting for Carlota for a while now. If she doesn't turn up in the next five minutes, I'll leave.
b. for some time now
Hace un rato que estoy parado en el tráfico, así que no sé cuándo llegaré.I've been stuck in the traffic for some time now, so I don't know when I'll get there.
