Llevar for how long
Type the missing word in each sentence. You hear each sentence read by a native voice.
Ella dos días enferma.
She has been sick for two days.
The rule
Spanish uses the present tense in this pattern, even when English says “have been.” It is a natural way to answer questions about duration.
The pattern
Use llevar + length of time + gerund to say that an action started in the past and is still continuing. The gerund is the verb form ending in -ando or -iendo, such as *estudiando* or *esperando*.
| Person | Llevar |
|---|---|
| yo | llevo |
| tú | llevas |
| él, ella, usted | lleva |
| nosotros | llevamos |
| ellos, ellas, ustedes | llevan |
Llevo dos años estudiando español. means “I have been studying Spanish for two years.” Do not add *he estado* in this pattern.
Use llevar + length of time + sin + infinitive to say how long you have not done something. The infinitive is the dictionary form of the verb, such as *fumar* or *dormir*.
You can also use llevar + length of time + place or adjective. This describes how long someone has been in a place or state.
This pattern has the same meaning as hace + time + que + present tense. Both forms describe something that began in the past and continues now.
Examples
- Llevo dos años estudiando español.I have been studying Spanish for two years.
- Hace dos años que estudio español.I have been studying Spanish for two years.
- Llevamos una hora esperando.We have been waiting for an hour.
- Hace una hora que esperamos.We have been waiting for an hour.
- Llevo tres días sin fumar.I have not smoked for three days.
- Hace tres días que no fumo.I have not smoked for three days.
- ¿Cuánto tiempo llevas aquí?How long have you been here?
- ¿Hace cuánto que estás aquí?How long have you been here?
Watch out
- Llevo estudiar español dos años. Llevo dos años estudiando español. Use a gerund after the time phrase, not the dictionary form of the verb.
- He estado estudiando español por dos años. Llevo dos años estudiando español. The first sentence is understandable, but *llevar* is the more natural choice for an ongoing duration.
- Llevo sin fumar tres días. Llevo tres días sin fumar. Put the length of time directly after *llevar*.