73.4.2 The present or historic present
In narrative contexts, completed past events are sometimes expressed with the present.
This usage of the present, usually known as the historic present, is much more common
in Spanish than it is in English. 17.1.3 (p. 73)
La guerra civil comienza en 1936 y termina en 1939.
The civil war began in 1936 and ended in 1939.En 1978 se aprueba la nueva Constitución.
The new Constitution was approved in 1978.Me llama a su despacho y me dice que estoy despedido.
He calls/called me to his office and tells/told me that I’m/was fired.The use of the present instead of the preterite in this context lends more force and
dramatic quality to the events which are being recounted.73.5 Saying how long ago something happened
The use of hace with a time phrase and a verb in the preterite serves to indicate how
long ago something happened. 17.4 (p. 75)
Regresaron hace un cuarto de hora./Hace un cuarto de hora que
regresaron.
They came back a quarter of an hour ago.
Se fue hace tres días./Hace tres días que se fue.
He/she left three days ago.71.7 (p. 403)
73.6 Talking about long-lasting past events
73.6.1 The preterite
In a sentence like ‘We lived in Barcelona for five months’, we are referring to a past
event, ‘we lived’, which lasted over a certain period of time, ‘for five months’. To
express an idea such as this, Spanish uses the preterite. 17.4 (p. 75)
Vivimos en Barcelona durante cinco meses.
We lived in Barcelona for five months.Trabajó aquí durante cinco años.
He/she worked here for five years.Esperó en el aeropuerto más de cuatro horas.
He/she waited at the airport for more than four hours.Talking about long-lasting past events 73.6