Conjugation Of Spanish Verb Hacer

Mastering the Spanish Verb "Hacer": A Comprehensive Conjugation Guide

The Spanish verb hacer (to do/to make) is one of the most frequently used verbs in the language. Understanding its conjugation is crucial for fluency. This comprehensive guide will walk you through all the tenses of hacer, offering clear explanations and examples to solidify your understanding. We'll cover everything from the present tense to the imperfect subjunctive, equipping you to confidently use this versatile verb in various contexts. By the end, you'll be well on your way to mastering hacer and significantly improving your Spanish conversational skills.

Understanding the Stem of "Hacer"

Before diving into the conjugations, it's important to understand the stem of the verb. The stem is the base form of the verb to which the endings are attached. For hacer, the stem is slightly irregular, changing depending on the tense. In the present tense and some other tenses, the stem is hac-, while in others, it's hic-. This irregularity is a key characteristic of this common verb and crucial to remember.

Present Tense Conjugation of Hacer

The present tense describes actions happening now. The conjugation of hacer in the present tense is as follows:

Pronoun	Conjugation	Example Sentence	English Translation
Yo (I)	hago	Yo hago la tarea.	I do the homework.
Tú (You - informal)	haces	Tú haces muy bien el trabajo.	You do the work very well.
Él/Ella/Usted (He/She/You - formal)	hace	Él hace ejercicio todos los días.	He does exercise every day.
Nosotros/Nosotras (We)	hacemos	Nosotros hacemos las compras.	We do the shopping.
Vosotros/Vosotras (You - informal, Spain)	hacéis	Vosotros hacéis un gran esfuerzo.	You (plural, informal) do a great effort.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes (They/You - formal)	hacen	Ellos hacen mucho ruido.	They make a lot of noise.

Notice how the stem hac- remains consistent throughout, with only the ending changing to reflect the subject pronoun.

Preterite Tense Conjugation of Hacer

The preterite tense describes completed actions in the past. This tense is crucial for narrating events. The preterite of hacer is also relatively straightforward:

Pronoun	Conjugation	Example Sentence	English Translation
Yo (I)	hice	Yo hice la cena anoche.	I made dinner last night.
Tú (You - informal)	hiciste	Tú hiciste un buen trabajo.	You did a good job.
Él/Ella/Usted (He/She/You - formal)	hizo	Ella hizo todo lo posible.	She did everything possible.
Nosotros/Nosotras (We)	hicimos	Nosotros hicimos una excursión.	We made an excursion.
Vosotros/Vosotras (You - informal, Spain)	hicisteis	Vosotros hicisteis un viaje increíble.	You (plural, informal) made an incredible trip.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes (They/You - formal)	hicieron	Ellos hicieron una fiesta.	They made a party.

Observe the change in the stem to hic- in the preterite tense.

Imperfect Tense Conjugation of Hacer

The imperfect tense describes ongoing or habitual actions in the past. It sets the scene or provides background information. The imperfect of hacer maintains the hac- stem:

Pronoun	Conjugation	Example Sentence	English Translation
Yo (I)	hacía	Yo hacía los deberes todos los días.	I used to do my homework every day.
Tú (You - informal)	hacías	Tú hacías mucho deporte.	You used to do a lot of sports.
Él/Ella/Usted (He/She/You - formal)	hacía	Él hacía pasteles deliciosos.	He used to make delicious cakes.
Nosotros/Nosotras (We)	hacíamos	Nosotros hacíamos muchas cosas juntos.	We used to do many things together.
Vosotros/Vosotras (You - informal, Spain)	hacíais	Vosotros hacíais mucho ruido.	You (plural, informal) used to make a lot of noise.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes (They/You - formal)	hacían	Ellos hacían planes para el futuro.	They used to make plans for the future.

The imperfect tense provides context and describes habitual actions, distinguishing it from the completed actions of the preterite.

Future Tense Conjugation of Hacer

The future tense expresses actions that will happen in the future. The future tense of hacer uses the auxiliary verb haber (to have) and the infinitive hacer:

Pronoun	Conjugation	Example Sentence	English Translation
Yo (I)	haré	Yo haré la compra mañana.	I will do the shopping tomorrow.
Tú (You - informal)	harás	Tú harás un buen trabajo.	You will do a good job.
Él/Ella/Usted (He/She/You - formal)	hará	Él hará todo lo posible.	He will do everything possible.
Nosotros/Nosotras (We)	haremos	Nosotros haremos una fiesta.	We will make a party.
Vosotros/Vosotras (You - informal, Spain)	haréis	Vosotros haréis un viaje increíble.	You (plural, informal) will make an incredible trip.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes (They/You - formal)	harán	Ellos harán lo que puedan.	They will do what they can.

The future tense is formed by combining the future tense of haber with the infinitive hacer.

Conditional Tense Conjugation of Hacer

The conditional tense expresses actions that would happen under a certain condition. It often translates to "would do" or "would make" in English. Similar to the future tense, it uses the conditional tense of haber and the infinitive hacer:

Pronoun	Conjugation	Example Sentence	English Translation
Yo (I)	haría	Yo haría la tarea si tuviera tiempo.	I would do the homework if I had time.
Tú (You - informal)	harías	Tú harías un buen trabajo si te concentrases.	You would do a good job if you concentrated.
Él/Ella/Usted (He/She/You - formal)	haría	Él haría todo lo posible.	He would do everything possible.
Nosotros/Nosotras (We)	haríamos	Nosotros haríamos una excursión si hiciera buen tiempo.	We would make an excursion if the weather were good.
Vosotros/Vosotras (You - informal, Spain)	haríais	Vosotros haríais un viaje increíble.	You (plural, informal) would make an incredible trip.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes (They/You - formal)	harían	Ellos harían lo que pudieran.	They would do what they could.

The conditional tense showcases hypothetical situations and potential actions.

Present Subjunctive Conjugation of Hacer

The present subjunctive is used to express desires, opinions, or emotions. It's often found in subordinate clauses. The present subjunctive of hacer uses the stem hag- :

Pronoun	Conjugation	Example Sentence	English Translation
Yo (I)	haga	Quiero que él haga la comida.	I want him to make the food.
Tú (You - informal)	hagas	Es importante que tú hagas tu parte.	It’s important that you do your part.
Él/Ella/Usted (He/She/You - formal)	haga	Espero que ella haga lo correcto.	I hope that she does the right thing.
Nosotros/Nosotras (We)	hagamos	Necesitamos que nosotros hagamos un esfuerzo.	We need us to make an effort.
Vosotros/Vosotras (You - informal, Spain)	hagáis	Quiero que vosotros hagáis la presentación.	I want you (plural, informal) to make the presentation.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes (They/You - formal)	hagan	Es necesario que ellos hagan el trabajo.	It’s necessary that they do the work.

The subjunctive mood expresses a less certain or more subjective action.

Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation of Hacer

The imperfect subjunctive is used to express hypothetical or counterfactual situations in the past. It is less frequently used than the present subjunctive but crucial for advanced Spanish. The imperfect subjunctive of hacer uses the stem hicie- :

Pronoun	Conjugation	Example Sentence	English Translation
Yo (I)	hiciera	Si yo hiciera eso, estaría arrepentido.	If I did that, I would be sorry.
Tú (You - informal)	hicieras	Si tú hicieras más ejercicio, te sentirías mejor.	If you did more exercise, you would feel better.
Él/Ella/Usted (He/She/You - formal)	hiciera	Si él hiciera lo que le digo, todo iría bien.	If he did what I tell him, everything would go well.
Nosotros/Nosotras (We)	hiciéramos	Si nosotros hiciéramos un mejor trabajo, tendríamos mejores resultados.	If we did a better job, we would have better results.
Vosotros/Vosotras (You - informal, Spain)	hiciérais	Si vosotros hiciérais eso, estaríamos muy contentos.	If you (plural, informal) did that, we would be very happy.
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes (They/You - formal)	hicieran	Si ellos hicieran su parte, terminaríamos a tiempo.	If they did their part, we would finish on time.

The imperfect subjunctive is used to express hypothetical actions in past contexts.

Common Expressions with Hacer

Beyond its standard uses, hacer participates in many idiomatic expressions:

Hacer la cama: To make the bed.
Hacer la compra: To do the shopping.
Hacer una pregunta: To ask a question.
Hacer amigos: To make friends.
Hacer el amor: To make love.
Hacer daño: To hurt.
Hacer calor/frío: To be hot/cold (weather).
Hacer falta: To be needed/missing.
Hacer caso: To pay attention.
Hacer un favor: To do a favor.

Learning these expressions will significantly enhance your ability to communicate naturally in Spanish.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What's the difference between hacer and trabajar?

A: While both relate to "doing," hacer is much broader. Hacer means "to do" or "to make" in a general sense, while trabajar specifically means "to work." You haces your homework, but you trabajas at your job.

Q: How do I choose between the preterite and imperfect?

A: The preterite emphasizes the completion of an action, while the imperfect focuses on the duration or habitual nature of an action in the past. Context is key!

Q: Is there a future perfect tense for hacer?

A: Yes, the future perfect is formed using the future tense of haber + the past participle hecho (done/made). For example, Habré hecho la tarea (I will have done the homework).

Q: How can I practice conjugating hacer?

A: Practice is essential! Use flashcards, online exercises, and incorporate the verb into your daily conversations or writing practice.

Conclusion

Mastering the conjugation of hacer is a significant step towards fluency in Spanish. This guide provides a solid foundation, covering the most important tenses and offering ample examples. Remember the key irregularities in the stem, practice regularly, and don't hesitate to utilize resources like online dictionaries and conjugation tools for further reinforcement. With consistent effort, you'll confidently navigate the nuances of this versatile verb and significantly enrich your Spanish vocabulary and communication skills. Keep practicing and soon hacer will become second nature!