How long ago? For how long? Using the verb 'hacer' to express the passage of time.

The verb 'hacer ', a verb in its own right used in all tenses, can be used to express the passage of time. We can use it to describe how long ago something happened or for how long we have been doing something. 

'Hace' can be used to talk about actions that occurred at a specific moment in the past; we use 'hace' to describe how long ago something happened. There are two ways of using it:  1. Hace + time + que + verb in the preterite - Hace seis años que conocí a mi esposa. (It was six years ago that I met my wife.) Hace cinco minutos que llegó. (She arrived five minutes ago.) 2. Verb in the preterite + hace + time - Aprendió a hablar español hace tres años. (She learned to speak Spanish three years ago.) Empecé mis estudios universitarios hace seis meses. (I started my university studies six months ago.)

'Hace' can also be used to talk about actions that started in the past and continue into the present; for how long we have been doing something. There are two ways of using it: 1. Hace + time + que + verb in the present - Hace un año que estudian español. (They have been studying Spanish for one year.) Hace seis años que conozco a mi esposa. (I have known my wife for six years.) 2. Verb in the present + desde + hace + time - Habla español desde hace tres años. (She has spoken Spanish for three years.) Tengo mi trabajo desde hace una semana. (I have had my job for a week.)