Negative duration with llevar... sin
When catching up with old friends at a reunion, you will inevitably talk about how long it has been since you last saw them or did something together.
In English, we usually say "I haven't seen you in years." In Spanish, the most natural way to express this continuous lack of action is by using the verb llevar followed by the amount of time, the preposition sin (without), and an infinitive.
llevar + [amount of time] + sin + infinitive
| I haven't seen my dear classmate in twenty years. | Llevo veinte años sin ver a mi querido compañero. |
| We haven't organized a reunion in twenty years. | Llevamos veinte años sin organizar un reencuentro. |
Because llevar is conjugated in the present tense, it indicates that the duration continues right up to the present moment. Literally, you are saying "I carry twenty years without seeing my dear classmate."
If the infinitive is a reflexive verb or requires an object pronoun, attach it directly to the end of the infinitive:
| You have a lot of gray hairs, but we haven't seen each other in thirty years. | Tienes muchas canas, pero llevamos treinta años sin vernos. |
You can also use vague amounts of time, like años (years) or mucho tiempo (a long time), instead of specific numbers:
| We haven't shared a coffee together in years. | Llevamos años sin compartir un café juntos. |
| Your letter moves me because I haven't heard from you in years. | Tu carta me conmueve porque llevo años sin saber de ti. |