When and how long
When does it happen, and how long does it last?
Meaning
Time expressions tell us when something happens or how long it lasts. They can name a clock time, a day, a starting point, or a length of time. Languages use separate words, endings, or context; some have no special endings for time expressions. Unlike Past, present and future, this block gives a time or duration rather than just placing an event before now, now, or later.
How to spot it
Look for words or forms that answer when, since when, until when, or for how long.
In your native language
English uses words such as yesterday and expressions with at, on, and in to say when something happens. For gives a length of time, while since gives the starting point of a period continuing to a later point, often now. Time expressions often go at the beginning or end of a sentence.
The class starts at nine on Monday.
At is used with a clock time and on with a day.
We waited for twenty minutes.
For introduces the length of time.
I've lived here since 2020.
Since marks the starting year; the situation continues now.
In your learning language
Spanish names times with words such as mañana, day phrases such as el viernes, and a la or a las for clock times. Durations can appear without a preposition or with durante. Desde gives a starting point, while desde hace plus a duration can say how long a situation has continued.
El taller empieza a las seis.
The workshop starts at six.
El viernes tenemos una reunión.
We have a meeting on Friday.
The day expression uses el without a preposition.
Vivo aquí desde hace dos años.
I've lived here for two years.
The phrase gives a duration that began in the past and continues now.
Learners whose language uses the same marker for several kinds of time expression may extend en to days or clock times. They may also confuse hace dos años, meaning two years ago, with desde hace dos años, meaning for the last two years.