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"Hacía" is a form of "hacer", a transitive verb which is often translated as "to do". "Hace tiempo que" is a phrase which is often translated as "a while ago". Learn more about the difference between "hacía" and "hace tiempo que" below.
hacer(
ah
-
sehr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
2. (to produce)
b. to prepare
Nos reuniremos este fin de semana para hacer la presentación.We will meet this weekend to prepare the presentation.
3. (to create)
a. to make
Hoy les enseñaré a hacer su propio sitio web.Today I'll show you how to make your own website.
a. to make
Estoy ocupado haciendo los preparativos para la fiesta.I'm busy making preparations for the party.
a. to do
Me mandó que lavara los platos pero ya lo había hecho.He told me to wash the dishes but I had already done it.
6. (to acquire)
7. (to cause)
8. (to imagine)
12. (to behave)
13. (to gross)
14. (to take time)
An impersonal verb is a verb with no apparent subject (e.g., Llueve en España.).
16. (time)
hacerse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
a. to make oneself
Creo que voy a hacerme un puré de zanahorias esta noche.I think I'm going to make myself some carrot soup tonight.
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
20. (to feign)
a. to pretend
No te hagas el santo; tú también te equivocas.Don't pretend to be a saint; you make mistakes, too.
21. (to turn into)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Ya va siendo hora de que se haga cortar el pelo.It's about time he had his hair cut.
Vamos a hacernos pintar la casa después del verano.We're going to have the house painted after the summer.
23. (to manage to)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Daniela solo ayuda en clase para hacerse ver.Daniela only helps out in class to get noticed.
Deberíamos darle una oportunidad para hacerse oír.We should give him a chance to be heard.
25. (to appear)
a. to feel
Hoy se me hizo muy largo esperando los resultados de la prueba.Today felt really long waiting for my test results.
b. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
El curso se me está haciendo aburrido.I'm finding the course boring.
La película se me hizo interminable.The movie seemed interminable.
hace tiempo que(
ah
-
seh
tyehm
-
poh
keh
)A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
1. (long ago)
a. a while ago
Nosotros hace tiempo que nos divorciamos. ¿No lo sabías?We got divorced a while ago. Hadn't you heard?
b. some time ago
Hace tiempo que abrimos la tienda. Solo te digo que la calle no era todavía peatonal.We opened up the store some time ago. Enough to say that the street wasn't yet a pedestrian street.
c. a long time ago
Hace tiempo que se fueron a vivir a Sevilla. Recuerdo que los niños eran muy pequeños.They moved to Seville a long time ago. I remember the children were very little.
a. for some time
¿La señora Elisa García? - Hace tiempo que no trabaja aquí.Ms. Elisa Garcia? - She hasn't worked here for some time.
b. for a while
Hace tiempo que hago yoga, al menos dos años.I've been doing yoga for a while; for two years at least.
c. it's a long time since
Hace tiempo que quiero escribirle, pero estoy siempre tan liada.It's a long time since I've wanted to write to her, but I'm always so tied up.
