llevaba años

had been for years

→ llevar

phrase Rare #41,310

had been for years Used to say that an action or situation had already lasted a long time in the past. Often followed by another verb in the -ing form or by a time expression like sin + infinitive.

SP: Llevaba años buscando la respuesta.

EN: He had been looking for the answer for years.

Llevaba años en esta guerra y ya me estaba cansando.

I had been in this war for years and I was getting tired of it.

— Tropa de élite (2007)

Llevaba años trabajando en una novela, antes y después del accidente de Daniel.

I had been working on a novel for years, both before and after Daniel’s accident.

— Anatomía de una caída (2023)

Llevaba años sin entrar aquí.

I hadn't been here for years.

— Los Tenenbaums. Una familia de genios (2001)

Llevaba años trabajando en una novela.

He had been working on a novel for years.

— Anatomía de una caída (2023)

Anoche, mató al policía que llevaba años buscándola.

Last night, she killed the police officer who had been searching for her for years.

— Tigre y dragón (2000)