Hacer: All Conjugations Explained (A Comprehensive Guide)

What Does Hacer Mean?

The verb hacer translates to “to do” or “to make” in English, but its uses go far beyond that simple definition. It’s a verb that pops up constantly, whether you’re talking about daily activities, creating something, or even expressing time. Here’s how it’s commonly used:

• Actions: Hago mi tarea todas las noches. (I do my homework every night.)
• Creation: Ella hace un pastel delicioso. (She makes a delicious cake.)
• Time expressions: Hace dos años que estudio español. (I have been studying Spanish for two years.)

Hacer Present Tense

The present tense of hacer is used to describe actions happening right now or habitual actions. Since it’s irregular in the yo form, it’s important to pay attention to its conjugation:

Present Tense Conjugation Table

Examples:

• Yo hago ejercicio en las mañanas. (I exercise in the mornings.)
• Ellos hacen preguntas interesantes. (They ask interesting questions.)

Hacer Present Progressive

The present progressive is used for actions that are happening right now. Form it with estar plus the present participle haciendo.

Think of it like the “ing” at the end of a verb in English. Like in making, eating, doing, etc.

Conjugation Table

Examples:

• Estoy haciendo la cena. (I am making dinner.)
• ¿Qué estás haciendo? (What are you doing?)

Helpful Tip: To practice, try narrating your actions in real time using haciendo.

Hacer Past Tense

Hacer in the Preterite Tense

The preterite tense is used in Spanish to describe actions that are completed and occurred at a specific point in the past. For hacer, this includes tasks accomplished, things created, or actions finalized. The preterite tense of hacer is particularly notable because it’s irregular, with unique forms in the yo and él/ella/usted conjugations.

Conjugation of Hacer in the Preterite Tense

Examples of Hacer in the Preterite Tense

1. Hice una lista de tareas.
   (I made a to-do list.)

2. ¿Hiciste la presentación para la reunión?
   (Did you make the presentation for the meeting?)

3. Ella hizo una llamada importante.
   (She made an important call.)

4. Hicimos un pastel para la fiesta.
   (We made a cake for the party.)

5. Ellos hicieron una reserva en el restaurante.
   (They made a reservation at the restaurant.)

Helpful Tips for Practicing the Preterite with Hacer

• Focus on the Irregular Forms: The yo form (hice) and él/ella/usted form (hizo) are irregular, so spend extra time practicing these to ensure they come naturally.

  • Example: Hice un dibujo en la clase de arte.
    (I made a drawing in art class.)

• Pair It with Specific Time Expressions: The preterite is often used alongside phrases that pinpoint when an action occurred, such as ayer (yesterday), la semana pasada (last week), or hace dos días (two days ago).

  • Example: Ayer hice ejercicio por una hora.
    (Yesterday, I exercised for an hour.)

• Use It in Storytelling: Practice using hacer in narratives about past events, like trips, projects, or memorable days.

  • Example: Durante nuestras vacaciones, hicimos muchas actividades divertidas.
    (During our vacation, we did many fun activities.)

• Differentiate It from the Imperfect: The preterite is used for completed actions, so be mindful of when to use it instead of the imperfect tense, which describes ongoing or habitual actions in the past.

  • Example (preterite): Hicimos la tarea después de cenar.
    (We did the homework after dinner.)
  • Example (imperfect): Hacíamos la tarea mientras escuchábamos música.
    (We used to do homework while listening to music.)

• Practice with Common Questions: Boost your conversational skills by practicing questions that use hacer in the preterite.

  • Example: ¿Qué hiciste el fin de semana pasado?
    (What did you do last weekend?)
  • Example: ¿Quién hizo el pastel para la fiesta?
    (Who made the cake for the party?)

The preterite tense is essential for describing past events, and hacer is one of the most frequently used verbs in this tense. With consistent practice, you’ll find it easier to use hacer naturally in conversations about completed actions!

Hacer in the Imperfect Tense

The imperfect tense is used in Spanish to describe actions that were ongoing, habitual, or repeated in the past. For hacer, this often involves routines, long-term activities, or actions that set the scene in a story. Unlike the preterite tense, the imperfect doesn’t focus on when an action was completed—it emphasizes the continuity or repetition of the action.

A quick trick I learned in school when using the imperfect tense is to think in terms of what you “used to do”.

Conjugation of Hacer in Imperfect 

Examples of Hacer in the Imperfect Tense

1. Hacíamos deportes todos los sábados.
   (We used to play sports every Saturday.)

2. Yo hacía tareas mientras escuchaba música.
   (I used to do homework while listening to music.)

3. Ellos hacían caminatas por el parque después de cenar.
   (They used to take walks in the park after dinner.)

4. Mi abuela hacía pan casero cada domingo.
   (My grandmother used to make homemade bread every Sunday.)

5. Nosotros hacíamos proyectos de arte en la escuela primaria.
   (We used to do art projects in elementary school.)

Helpful Tips for Practicing the Imperfect with Hacer

• Think of Repeated Actions: The imperfect tense is perfect for describing things you did over and over in the past. Use it to talk about routines or traditions.

  • Example: Cuando era niño, hacía castillos de arena en la playa.
    (When I was a child, I used to make sandcastles at the beach.)

• Combine It with “Mientras”: The word mientras (while) is often used with the imperfect to describe simultaneous ongoing actions.

  • Example: Hacía la cena mientras mi hermano ponía la mesa.
    (I was making dinner while my brother was setting the table.)

• Use It for Background Information: In storytelling, the imperfect is used to set the scene or provide context about what was happening at a particular moment.

  • Example: Hacíamos un picnic cuando empezó a llover.
    (We were having a picnic when it started to rain.)

• Practice with Descriptions of the Past: Use hacer in the imperfect to describe childhood activities, traditions, or long-term habits.

  • Example: De niños, hacíamos excursiones al bosque.
    (As kids, we used to take trips to the forest.)

• Pair It with Other Imperfect Verbs: Practice using hacer alongside other verbs in the imperfect to describe layered past actions.

  • Example: Hacíamos ejercicios y hablábamos sobre nuestro día.
    (We were doing exercises and talking about our day.)

Common Questions to Practice

1. ¿Qué hacías cuando eras niño?
   (What did you do when you were a child?)

2. ¿Hacías deporte en la escuela?
   (Did you play sports at school?)

3. ¿Qué actividades hacían tus abuelos?
   (What activities did your grandparents do?)

The imperfect tense provides a wonderful way to describe life’s ongoing moments and repeated actions in the past. Using hacer in the imperfect allows you to bring your memories or stories to life with vivid detail and nuance!

Hacer in the Past Subjunctive

The past subjunctive, also known as the imperfect subjunctive, is used to express hypothetical situations, doubts, wishes, or polite requests in the past. It’s a crucial mood in Spanish that adds nuance and depth to your conversations and storytelling.

Conjugation of Hacer in the Past Subjunctive

In Spanish, the past subjunctive has two forms: the “-ra” and “-se” forms. Both are correct, but the “-ra” form is more commonly used in everyday speech.

-Ra Form

-Se Form

Examples of Hacer in the Past Subjunctive

• Quería que hicieras tu tarea antes de salir.
  (I wanted you to do your homework before going out.)

• Si hiciera más calor, iríamos a la playa.
  (If it were warmer, we would go to the beach.)

• No creía que hicieran tanto esfuerzo en el proyecto.
  (I didn’t think they would put so much effort into the project.)

• Ella esperaba que hiciéramos un cambio en el horario.
  (She hoped that we would make a change in the schedule.)

Helpful Tips for Practicing the Past Subjunctive with Hacer

1. Use “Si” Clauses:
   The past subjunctive frequently appears in conditional “if” clauses. Practice pairing it with the conditional tense in the main clause.

   • Si hiciera más frío, usaría mi abrigo.
     (If it were colder, I would wear my coat.)

2. Combine with Expressions of Doubt or Uncertainty:
   The past subjunctive is often used with verbs of doubt or denial in the past tense, like dudar or negar.

   • Dudaba que hicieras la presentación sola.
     (I doubted that you would do the presentation alone.)

3. Explore Hypotheticals:
   Practice crafting hypothetical scenarios to get comfortable with the conjugations.

   • Si ellos hicieran más ejercicio, se sentirían mejor.
     (If they exercised more, they would feel better.)

4. Use Common Subjunctive Triggers:
   Triggers like esperar que (to hope that), querer que (to want that), or ser posible que (to be possible that) are perfect for incorporating the past subjunctive.

   • Esperaba que hicieras algo especial por su cumpleaños.
     (I hoped you would do something special for their birthday.)

The past subjunctive is an essential part of advanced Spanish, allowing you to describe past doubts, wishes, or hypotheticals with precision. Practice with common triggers and conditional clauses to make this mood feel more natural in your speech and writing!

Hacer Past Participle

The past participle hecho is used in compound tenses like the present perfect.

Examples:

• He hecho la cena. (I have made dinner.)
• Habían hecho un plan. (They had made a plan.)

Helpful Tip: Keep practicing by adding hecho to other auxiliary verbs like haber.

Hacer Commands

Conjugating Hacer Command Forms

The command form of hacer is essential when you want to give someone direct instructions or requests. In Spanish, commands vary depending on whether they are affirmative or negative, and whether the person being addressed is informal (tú) or formal (usted). Let’s break it down.

Hacer Negative Tú Command

The negative tú command is used to tell someone informally not to do something. To form it, use the subjunctive conjugation of hacer in the second-person singular.

Examples:

• No hagas eso.
  (Don’t do that.)

• No hagas ruido.
  (Don’t make noise.)

Helpful Tip: Pair the negative tú command with polite explanations to soften your requests, like:
No hagas eso porque es peligroso.
(Don’t do that because it’s dangerous.)

Hacer Affirmative Tú Command

The affirmative tú command is used to tell someone informally to do something. This command form is irregular for hacer—the conjugation is haz.

Examples:

• Haz tu tarea.
  (Do your homework.)

• Haz la cama.
  (Make the bed.)

Helpful Tip: Use affirmative commands with encouraging phrases to motivate action:
Haz tu mejor esfuerzo.
(Do your best effort.)

Hacer Formal Commands (Usted and Ustedes)

Formal commands are used when addressing someone respectfully, such as a teacher, elder, or stranger. Both affirmative and negative commands use the subjunctive forms of hacer for usted (singular) and ustedes (plural).

Affirmative Formal Commands:

• Haga el trabajo.
  (Do the work.)

• Hagan silencio, por favor.
  (Be quiet, please.)

Negative Formal Commands:

• No haga eso.
  (Don’t do that.)

• No hagan ruido.
  (Don’t make noise.)

Helpful Tip: Add “por favor” to formal commands to make them polite and professional:
Haga la tarea, por favor.
(Please do the homework.)

Hacer Commands for Nosotros (Let’s)

The nosotros command is used to suggest an action for a group you’re part of. Think of it as saying “Let’s do…” in English. Use the subjunctive form hagamos for affirmative commands, and add no for negative commands.

Examples:

• Hagamos un plan.
  (Let’s make a plan.)

• No hagamos ruido.
  (Let’s not make noise.)

Helpful Tip: Use nosotros commands to encourage teamwork or collaboration:
Hagamos algo divertido hoy.
(Let’s do something fun today.)

Hacer Command Conjugation Table

Practice Tips for Hacer Commands

1. Create Real-Life Scenarios: Practice commands by imagining conversations with friends, family, or colleagues.

   • Example: Haz la cena esta noche. (Make dinner tonight.)

2. Role-Play Formal Situations: Use formal commands to simulate respectful requests.

   • Example: Haga el favor de cerrar la puerta. (Please do the favor of closing the door.)

3. Team Up with Nosotros Commands: Practice suggesting group actions with friends.

   • Example: Hagamos ejercicio juntos. (Let’s exercise together.)

4. Add Emotion or Politeness: Enhance your commands with emotion or courtesy.

   • Example: No hagas eso, por favor. (Please don’t do that.)

Mastering the commands for hacer equips you to express direct requests, suggestions, and instructions effectively—whether you’re chatting with friends, addressing a group, or navigating formal situations. Keep practicing, and these commands will become second nature!

Hacer Future Tense

Hacer Conjugations in the Future Tense

The future tense of hacer is used to talk about actions or events that will happen in the future. While most verbs follow a regular conjugation pattern in the future tense, hacer is irregular. Its conjugations are derived from the stem har-, making it essential to memorize.

Conjugation Table

Examples in Context

• Yo haré ejercicio mañana.
  (I will exercise tomorrow.)

• Ellos harán una fiesta este fin de semana.
  (They will throw a party this weekend.)

• Nosotros haremos todo lo posible.
  (We will do everything possible.)

Practical Tips for Using the Future Tense

1. Use for Plans and Predictions: The future tense is ideal for expressing what you plan to do or what you think will happen. For example:

   • Harás grandes cosas en la vida. (You will do great things in life.)

2. Combine with Time Markers: Pair future tense verbs with expressions like mañana (tomorrow), la próxima semana (next week), or en el futuro (in the future) to provide context.

3. Practice Through Affirmations: Practice making sentences about your goals, such as:

   • Haré todo lo necesario para aprender español. (I will do everything necessary to learn Spanish.)

4. Distinguish from Conditional Tense: The future tense focuses on what will happen, while the conditional tense discusses what would happen under specific conditions.

Common Phrases with Hacer in the Future Tense

• ¿Qué harás después del trabajo?
  (What will you do after work?)

• Haré una lista de compras antes de salir.
  (I will make a shopping list before going out.)

• Harán un cambio en el horario pronto.
  (They will make a change to the schedule soon.)

By mastering the future tense of hacer, you’ll be better equipped to discuss your plans and aspirations in Spanish, making your conversations more dynamic and forward-looking!

Hacer Conditional Tense

Hacer in the Conditional Tense

The conditional tense in Spanish is used to describe actions that would happen under certain conditions, express polite requests, or talk about hypothetical situations. For the verb hacer, the conditional tense allows you to discuss what you would do or make in different scenarios. Like the future tense, the conditional tense of hacer is irregular and is formed using the stem har- combined with the standard conditional endings.

Conjugation of Hacer in the Conditional Tense

Examples of Hacer in the Conditional Tense

1. Yo haría lo que fuera necesario para ayudarte.
   (I would do whatever is necessary to help you.)
2. ¿Harías un favor por mí?
   (Would you do me a favor?)
3. Ella haría un pastel, pero no tiene los ingredientes.
   (She would make a cake, but she doesn’t have the ingredients.)
4. Haríamos más ejercicio si tuviéramos tiempo.
   (We would exercise more if we had time.)
5. Ellos harían un viaje a España si pudieran.
   (They would take a trip to Spain if they could.)

Practical Uses of the Conditional Tense

• Expressing Polite Requests: The conditional tense softens requests and makes them sound more polite.

  • Example: ¿Harías el favor de cerrar la ventana?
    (Would you please close the window?)

• Hypothetical Scenarios: Use the conditional to describe what you would do if certain conditions were met.

  • Example: Haríamos una fiesta si tuviéramos más espacio.
    (We would throw a party if we had more space.)

• Expressing Desires or Dreams: The conditional is great for talking about what you’d like to do in the future.

  • Example: Me haría feliz viajar por todo el mundo.
    (It would make me happy to travel the world.)

• Adding Politeness to Suggestions: Make your suggestions or opinions sound less direct by using the conditional.

  • Example: Creo que harías bien en estudiar más español.
    (I think you would do well to study more Spanish.)

Helpful Tips for Practicing the Conditional Tense

1. Combine with “Si” Clauses: Use conditional sentences with “si” (if) to talk about hypothetical situations.

   • Example: Si tuviera tiempo, haría más ejercicio.
     (If I had time, I would exercise more.)

2. Make Polite Requests: Practice using the conditional to ask for things kindly.

   • Example: ¿Harías una lista para mí?
     (Would you make a list for me?)

3. Use Real-Life Scenarios: Think of situations where you’d naturally use the conditional, like discussing plans or expressing wishes.

   • Example: Haría más proyectos de arte si tuviera los materiales.
     (I would do more art projects if I had the materials.)

4. Contrast Conditional and Future Tenses: Practice distinguishing between what you will do (future) and what you would do (conditional).

   • Example (future): Haré la tarea mañana. (I will do the homework tomorrow.)
   • Example (conditional): Haría la tarea, pero estoy cansado. (I would do the homework, but I’m tired.)

FAQ About Hacer

What does hacer mean?
Hacer means “to do” or “to make.” It’s a versatile verb used in many contexts.

How do you conjugate hacer in the yo form?
The yo form changes depending on the tense:

• Present: hago
• Preterite: hice
• Future: haré

What is the past participle of hacer?
The past participle of hacer is hecho.

More Internal Links From Spanish Nerd

• Ser Verb Conjugation Made Easy
• The Spanish Alphabet: A Complete Guide
• The Letter C in Spanish
• The Letter G in Spanish

External Links

• SpanishDict Conjugation Guide
• BBC Languages – Spanish
• Real Academia Española

This comprehensive guide to hacer all conjugations is your go-to resource for mastering one of Spanish’s most essential verbs. Keep practicing, and don’t forget to check out our related posts for even more language-learning tips