Introduction
Desde que is a small Spanish phrase with big uses. It can mark the starting point of an action or explain a cause, and it can appear with the present perfect, the simple past, or the present tense. This article explains when and how to use desde que in Spanish, with clear rules, many examples, and helpful notes for English-speaking learners.
What does Desde que mean?
Desde que literally combines desde meaning since or from and que meaning that or when. Together, desde que usually indicates the starting point of an action in time, similar to English since, or introduces a cause similar to because or now that in some contexts. The most common use is temporal: it tells when something began and often pairs with tenses that show duration or change.
Two main functions: time and cause
Use desde que primarily in two ways:
– Temporal: to mark the moment an action started, often followed by a verb in past, present, or present perfect. Example: Desde que llegué, hace frío.
– Causal or explanatory: to give a reason, sometimes interchangeable with porque or puesto que. Example: Desde que no trabaja, tiene más tiempo libre.
Temporal use: marking a starting point
When desde que marks a starting point in time, think of it like English since followed by a clause. The verb tense you choose after desde que depends on whether the action is completed, ongoing, or linked to another time reference in the sentence.
Since with present perfect or present tense
To express an action that started in the past and continues into the present, Spanish often uses the present tense or the present perfect for the main clause, while the clause after desde que is in the past simple when it refers to the starting moment.
Structure examples:
– Main clause in present + desde que + verb in past simple.
– Main clause in present perfect + desde que + verb in past simple.
Examples:
Vivo aquí desde que era niño.
He vivido aquí desde que era niño.
Ella está feliz desde que consiguió el trabajo.
Hemos estado cansados desde que empezó el semestre.
Note that the verb after desde que often uses the imperfect (era) or preterite (consiguió, empezó) depending on whether the starting event is described as ongoing/habitual or as a single completed event.
Since with past tenses (completed period)
If the main clause refers to a completed time frame in the past, both verbs can be in past tenses. Use the imperfect for background situations and the preterite for specific actions or events.
Examples:
No trabajó aquí desde que se mudó a otra ciudad.
No salíamos mucho desde que él estaba enfermo.
In English: He didn’t work here since he moved to another city. We didn’t go out much since he was ill.
Since with past perfect
When you want to emphasize that one past action began before another past action, you can combine desde que with the past perfect (pluscuamperfecto) to show the earlier action.
Example:
Yo ya había estudiado mucho desde que me aceptaron en la universidad.
Here, the past perfect shows the studying started and continued before another past reference point.
Causal or explanatory use of Desde que
The phrase desde que can also introduce a reason or explanation. In this usage, it functions similarly to porque, puesto que, or ya que. It often appears when the speaker links a change in situation to a cause.
When it sounds natural as because
Use desde que as a causal connector when a past change explains the current state. The verb after desde que is usually in the past if the cause happened earlier.
Examples:
No ha vuelto a la playa desde que tuvo el accidente.
No cocinamos en casa tanto desde que empezamos a trabajar muchas horas.
In these sentences, desde que links a past event (tuvo el accidente, empezamos a trabajar) to a consequence (no ha vuelto, no cocinamos tanto).
Difference between temporal and causal meanings
Sometimes the temporal and causal meanings overlap. Compare:
Desde que llegó, todo es diferente. (Temporal: since he arrived, everything is different.)
Desde que llegó, cambió la rutina. (Causal or temporal: his arrival caused the routine to change.)
Context and emphasis determine whether the speaker simply indicates time or implies cause.
Tense choices and common patterns
Choosing the correct tense with desde que is essential for clarity. Below are common patterns and when to use them.
Present main clause + past simple after desde que
Used when an action began in the past and continues now.
Example: Vivo mejor desde que encontré un mejor trabajo.
Present perfect main clause + past simple after desde que
This highlights the ongoing result that began in the past and affects the present.
Example: He sentido alivio desde que hablé con mi jefe.
Past main clause + past after desde que
Use when both the starting point and the main statement are in the past.
Example: Estuvimos contentos desde que se fue el vecino ruidoso.
Imperative and commands with desde que
It is uncommon to use desde que directly after an imperative, but you might see it in advice or conditional constructions that include commands indirectly.
Example: Desde que te mudes, cuida tus gastos. (A natural alternative would be Cuida tus gastos desde que te mudes.)
Examples by tense: clear comparisons
Seeing side-by-side examples helps. Below are pairs that show contrast in meaning depending on tense use.
Present result with past starting point:
Estoy más tranquilo desde que dejé el trabajo. (I am calmer since I quit the job.)
Past result with past starting point:
Estuve más tranquilo desde que dejó el trabajo. (I was calmer since he left the job — in a past period.)
Ongoing activity begun in the past:
Estudio español desde que empecé las clases en enero. (I have been studying Spanish since I started classes in January.)
Cause emphasis:
No salimos mucho desde que tenemos un bebé. (We don’t go out much because we have a baby. The baby is the cause.)
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
English speakers often map since directly to the present perfect or continuous forms. Important cautions:
– Do not use the infinitive after desde que. You need a conjugated verb or a noun phrase. Incorrect: *desde que vivir aquí. Correct: desde que vivo aquí.
– Choose the past simple after desde que to mark the starting action clearly (consiguió, empezó, se fue), and match the main clause tense to whether the result continues.
– Avoid confusing desde que with hace + time expression. Both can express duration but with different structures. Example: Vivo aquí desde 2018. vs. Vivo aquí desde que me mudé en 2018. vs. Vivo aquí hace ocho años. All are correct but structured differently.
Useful variations and related phrases
Familiarize yourself with related expressions that often appear near desde que:
– desde: used with a noun or date instead of a clause. Example: Desde 2018 vivo aquí.
– desde entonces: used to refer back to a point mentioned earlier. Example: Llegó tarde y desde entonces está más serio.
– desde que + subordinate clause + main clause: typical order, but you can sometimes place the desde que clause at the end for emphasis. Example: No trabajo tanto desde que cambié de puesto.
Regional and register notes
Desde que is widely used across Spanish-speaking regions and understood in both formal and informal contexts. Some speakers might prefer porque or desde for causal clarity, but desde que remains natural in spoken and written Spanish. In very formal registers, writers may choose más precisa constructions, but there is no serious regional restriction on usage.
Quick reference table (verbal patterns)
Short summary of the most common verb patterns with desde que:
– Present / Present perfect (main) + past simple (desde que) = ongoing result from a past start.
– Past (main) + preterite or imperfect (desde que) = past context and start both in the past.
– Past perfect (main) + desde que + past = emphasize action before another past point.
– Use imperfect after desde que when describing background or habitual past situations.
Conclusion
Desde que is a flexible connector that signals when something started and often why something changed. Mastering which tense to use after desde que — and which tense to use in the main clause — helps you express duration, cause, and sequence accurately. Focus on whether the effect continues into the present, whether the starting moment is a single event or habitual background, and choose past simple, imperfect, or perfect forms accordingly. With practice, using desde que will become natural in both speaking and writing.
