Spanish grammar - For how long? - durations with durante and por

For how long? - durations with durante & por

Firstly we can use ¿cuánto tiempo? to ask about durations of time - 'how long?' or 'how much time?'

The words durante ('during') and por ('for') can be used to specify durations.

• durante is used when emphasizing the duration or in more for-mal contexts.

• por is almost always used with brief periods of time or to suggest that the period of time might be less than expected.

Otherwise, these words are typically omitted in spoken Spanish.

Examples:
	¿Cuánto tiempo viviste en Madrid? How long did (you, familiar) live in Madrid?
	Viví en Madrid diez años. (I) lived in Madrid for ten years. [durante and por omitted in spoken Spanish
	¿Cuánto tiempo has estudiado español? How long have (you, familiar) studied Spanish?
	Estudié español durante tres años. (I) studied Spanish for three years. durante here emphasizes the duration
	Jugué al fútbol tres horas hoy. (I) played soccer for three hours today.
	Juego al fútbol tres horas cada miércoles. (I) play football for three hours every Wednesday. fútbol (m) means 'football'
	La clase fue suspendida durante un año. The class was suspended for a year. durante here emphasizes the duration suspender means 'to suspend'
	¿Cuánto tiempo has vivido en Burdeos? How long have (you, familiar) lived in Bordeaux? Burdeos means 'Bordeaux' (the French city)
	He vivido en Sevilla diez años. (I) have lived in Seville for ten years. Sevilla means 'Seville'
	Mi hijo ha estado tocando el piano cinco meses. My child has been playing the piano for five months. piano (m) means 'piano' mes (m) means 'month'
	Su hija y yo hemos estado saliendo tres años. Their daughter and (I) have been dating for three years. salir means 'to date'
	¿Desde cuándo estudias español? Since when do (you, familiar) study Spanish? desde means 'since'
	He estado estudiando español desde 2020. (I) have been studying Spanish since 2020.
	¿Cuánto tiempo habías estado durmiendo cuando llegué? How long had (you, familiar) been asleep when (I) arrived?
	Había estado viviendo en España dos años cuando lo vi. (He) had been living in Spain for two years when (I) saw him.
	¿Cuánto tiempo vas a vivir en Córdoba? How long are (you, familiar) going to live in Córdoba?
	Voy a vivir en Córdoba diez años. (I) am going to live in Córdoba for ten years.
	Viviré allí durante solo dos meses. (I) will live there for only two months.
	Va a visitarme diez días. (He) is going to visit me for ten days.
	Dicen que lloverá durante dos semanas. They say it will rain for two weeks.
	Creí por un segundo que me amabas. I thought for a second (you) loved me. por used to emphasize the short duration
	Lo pensé por solo un minuto. I thought about it for just one minute.
	Él habló por unos minutos. He talked for a few minutes.