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Talking to a native speaker
Rachel had a tough time learning hacer and desde expressions “even at an advanced level … because in English the way we would express the same meaning is structurally different.”
However, one particular interaction with a native speaker sticks in her mind:
“I remember one time where [a particular use of this] really became clear. … I was visiting a friend in Mexico and … I said something like Hace mucho que voy a un bar
(‘I’ve been going to a bar for a long time’ and what I really meant was Hace mucho que no voy a un bar (‘It’s been a long time since I’ve gone to a bar’) … Then she asked me a clarification question: Oh, you mean hace mucho que no vas a un bar.” |
Her friend asked for clarification because she wasn''t sure what Rachel meant to say. So this timely feedback from a native speaker taught Rachel the correct form to use. |

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Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA) • 140 University International Center •
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