This construction connects an ongoing activity with the time already spent doing it.
The idea
Conjugate llevar for the subject, add a duration, and use the gerund: llevo dos años viviendo aquí.
Examples
- Llevo dos años viviendo aquí.I have been living here for two years.
- Ella lleva tres meses aprendiendo español.She has been learning Spanish for three months.
- Llevamos una hora esperando el autobús.We have been waiting for the bus for an hour.
- ¿Cuánto tiempo llevas trabajando aquí?How long have you been working here?
- Ellos llevan cinco semanas preparando el informe.They have been preparing the report for five weeks.
- Mi hermano lleva seis meses estudiando música.My brother has been studying music for six months.
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Watch out
The duration describes an activity that continues now; do not use an infinitive after the duration in this pattern.
Try it yourself
Choose the form of llevar for yo. Yo ___ dos años viviendo aquí. (llevo / lleva)
Show answer or example answer
llevo
Llevo agrees with the first-person singular subject.
Choose the gerund after the duration. Ella lleva tres meses ___ español. (aprendiendo / aprender)
Show answer or example answer
aprendiendo
Aprendiendo is the gerund after the duration.
Choose the form of llevar for nosotros. Nosotros ___ una hora esperando. (llevamos / llevan)
Show answer or example answer
llevamos
Llevamos agrees with the first-person plural subject.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Spanish sentences where available. We keep your score.
Choose the form of llevar for yo. Yo ___ dos años viviendo aquí. (llevo / lleva)
Choose the gerund after the duration. Ella lleva tres meses ___ español. (aprendiendo / aprender)
Choose the form of llevar for nosotros. Nosotros ___ una hora esperando. (llevamos / llevan)
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Choose the form of llevar or the gerund that completes each continuing-duration sentence.