Expresiones temporales que indican cuándo ocurre una acción, su duración y cuánto tiempo ha pasado desde que ha sucedido.

(Time expressions that indicate when an action takes place, its duration, and how much time has passed since it happened.)

  1. "Hace" + amount of time is used for an action that has just finished.
  2. "Esta/Este" + time is used for a period still current.
  3. Temporal expressions are accompanied by verbs in the present perfect tense.
Expresión temporal (Temporal expression)Tiempo verbal (Tense)Ejemplo (Example)
Hace un rato (A little while ago)Pretérito perfecto (Present perfect)He recibido el dinero hace un rato. (I have received the money a little while ago)
Esta semana (This week)Pretérito perfecto (Present perfect)Esta semana, he abierto mi primera cuenta bancaria.  (This week, I have opened my first bank account.)
Hoy (Today)Pretérito perfecto (Present perfect)Hoy he añadido productos al carrito. (Today I have added products to the cart.)
Este mes (This month)Pretérito perfecto (Present perfect)Este mes he comprado mucho online. (This month I have bought a lot online.)

Exceptions!

  1. To talk about something that is happening now, you can also use "hoy". In this case, we do not include "este/-a".

Exercise 1: Expresiones temporales: "Hace un rato", "Esta semana", "Este mes",etc...

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

abriste, he añadido, usaste, has añadido, he pagado, he hecho, han hablado, he comprado

1. Añadir:
: Este mes tú ... varias cosas a tu cesta de compras.
(This month you have added several items to your shopping basket.)
2. Hacer:
: Hace un rato yo ... la reserva del vuelo en línea.
(A little while ago I made the flight reservation online.)
3. Usar:
: Tú ... el cajero hace un rato.
(You used the cash machine a while ago.)
4. Abrir:
: Tú ... una cuenta la semana pasada.
(You opened an account last week.)
5. Comprar:
: Hace un rato yo ... una tarjeta de crédito nueva.
(A little while ago I bought a new credit card.)
6. Hablar:
: Hace poco ellos ... por teléfono con el banco.
(They have recently spoken on the phone with the bank.)
7. Pagar:
: Esta semana yo ... en efectivo en la librería.
(This week I have paid in cash at the bookshop.)
8. Añadir:
: Este mes yo ... productos a mi cesta de compras.
(This month I have added products to my shopping basket.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct sentence according to the rules for using the time expressions "Hace un rato", "Esta semana", "Este mes" with the present perfect tense.

1.
With "Hace un rato" you use the present perfect, not the present tense.
With "Esta semana," you should use the present perfect, but here it is in the simple past.
2.
"Hace" is not used with current periods like "esta semana".
To express a completed action within "esta semana" you use the present perfect, not the present tense.
3.
You should use the present perfect with "esta semana," not the simple past.
"Hace" is not used with expressions like "esta semana" that indicate current periods.
4.
"Esta semana" requires the present perfect, not the simple past.
"Hace" is not used with present or ongoing periods like "esta semana".

Exercise 3: Rewrite the phrases

Instruction: Rewrite the sentences using the given time expressions (a little while ago / today / this week / this month) and the present perfect, keeping the same meaning.

Show/Hide translation Show/Hide hints
  1. Hint Hint (Hace un rato) Recibo el dinero ahora mismo. (usa: hace un rato)
    ⇒ _______________________________________________ Example
    He recibido el dinero hace un rato.
    (I received the money a little while ago.)
  2. Hint Hint (Esta semana) Abro mi primera cuenta bancaria esta semana.
    ⇒ _______________________________________________ Example
    Esta semana he abierto mi primera cuenta bancaria.
    (This week I have opened my first bank account.)
  3. Hint Hint (Este mes) Compro muchos productos online este mes.
    ⇒ _______________________________________________ Example
    Este mes he comprado muchos productos online.
    (This month I have bought many products online.)
  4. Hint Hint (Hoy) Añades los documentos al correo ahora. (usa: hoy)
    ⇒ _______________________________________________ Example
    Hoy has añadido los documentos al correo.
    (Today you have added the documents to the mail.)
  5. Hint Hint (Esta semana) Pagamos la factura esta semana.
    ⇒ _______________________________________________ Example
    Esta semana hemos pagado la factura.
    (This week we have paid the bill.)
  6. Hint Hint (Este mes) Termino el informe este mes.
    ⇒ _______________________________________________ Example
    Este mes he terminado el informe.
    (This month I have finished the report.)

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