“Llevo dos horas esperando”: two verbs working together
CEFR B2 · part 17 minInstant feedback
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The rule, in three lines
Two verbs working together carry meanings that English puts in adverbs: acabo de llegar (I have just arrived), llevo dos horas esperando (I have been waiting), volvió a llamar (he called again), dejó de fumar (he stopped smoking), se puso a llover (it started pouring).
The usual slip. Translating the English adverb instead of using the structure: llegué justo ahora for acabo de llegar, or lo hizo otra vez for volvió a hacerlo — both understandable, neither idiomatic.
Why it catches you out. English carries these in adverbs and auxiliaries: just, again, keep on, stop. Spanish carries them in a SECOND VERB, so the word you are looking for disappears: “volver a hacerlo” has no “again” in it anywhere.