- Uriel Benitez
Learn ‘Haber’ and ‘Hacer’ in Spanish – ChidoLingo’s Practical Guide
Mastering "Haber" and "Hacer" in Spanish
Spanish language enthusiasts, welcome to a challenge that even seasoned learners find perplexing: the distinction between the verbs “haber” and “hacer.” These two powerful verbs are indispensable in Spanish, yet they can be a source of frustration when they get mixed up.
But fret not! If you’ve ever found yourself puzzled over when to use “haber” or “hacer,” you’re in good company. It’s a common confusion, and that’s exactly why we’ve crafted this engaging guide.
Here’s what this blog will offer:
A Fun Translation Exercise: Start with an intriguing translation exercise, designed to immediately engage you and put your current understanding to the test. If you stumble, don’t worry—the rest of the blog is here to clarify.
Practical Approach to “Haber” and “Hacer”: This blog focuses on hands-on exercises rather than overwhelming theory. We believe in learning through doing, and that’s exactly what you’ll experience here.
Tips and Tricks for Confusion-Free Spanish: We’ll provide clear explanations, examples, and strategies to help you distinguish between these two verbs with confidence.
Ejercicio 1
Want to test your skills with the Spanish verbs “haber” and “hacer”? Here’s a translation exercise to challenge your understanding! Translate the following sentences from English to Spanish using the correct forms of “haber” and “hacer.”
Go ahead! Try it out now and then continue reading to learn more about “haber” and “hacer.”
Understanding "Haber" in Spanish:
The Spanish verb “haber” is one of the essential building blocks of the language, serving various functions in different contexts. Let’s get started!
1. Auxiliary Verb in Perfect Tenses:
📌Present Perfect:
- “Yo he visitado varios países en Europa.” (I have visited several countries in Europe.)
- “Tú has comido sushi, ¿verdad?” (You have eaten sushi, haven’t you?)
- “Nosotros hemos comprado una casa nueva.” (We have bought a new house.)
2. Existential Usage (There is/are):
📌Present:
- “Hay una conferencia a las tres.” (There is a conference at three.)
*Hay could also be used for “There are”
- “Hay muchos estudiantes en la biblioteca.” (There are many students in the library.)
📌Past (Preterite):
- “Hubo un error en el cálculo.” (There was a mistake in the calculation.)
3. Expressing Obligation (We have to):
📌Present:
- “Hay que terminar la tarea pronto.” (We have to finish the homework soon.)
- “Hay que respetar las reglas.” (We have to respect the rules.)
EJERCICIO 2
Exercises with Haber in Spanish
Introduction to "Hacer" in Spanish
The verb “hacer” is one of Spanish’s most versatile and common verbs. It’s used not only to express the action of doing or creating something but also to talk about the weather and in various idiomatic expressions. In this guide, we’ll focus on the most common uses of “hacer” in the present, preterite, and “going to” + infinitive (near future) tenses.
To Create or Perform an Action:
📌Present:
- “Yo hago mi tarea todos los días” (“I do my homework every day.)
- “Él hace ejercicio por la mañana.” (“He exercises in the morning.”)
- “Tú haces la cama cada día.” (“You make the bed every day.”)
- “Nosotros hacemos la compra los sábados.” (“We do the shopping on Saturdays.”)
Present Tense Conjugation of “Hacer”
| Subject | Conjugation | English Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | hago | I do/make |
| Tú | haces | You do/make |
| Él/Ella/Usted | hace | He/She/You do/make |
| Nosotros/Nosotras | hacemos | We do/make |
| Vosotros/Vosotras | hacéis | You all do/make |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | hacen | They/You all do/make |
📌Preterite:
- “Yo hice mi tarea ayer por la noche.” (“I did my homework last night.”)
- “Nosotros hicimos un viaje a México el mes pasado.” (“We made a trip to Mexico last month.”)
- “Tú hiciste la cena para tus amigos.” (“You made dinner for your friends.”)
Preterite Tense Conjugation of “Hacer”
| Subject | Conjugation | English Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | hice | I did/made |
| Tú | hiciste | You did/made |
| Él/Ella/Usted | hizo | He/She/You did/made |
| Nosotros/Nosotras | hicimos | We did/made |
| Vosotros/Vosotras | hicisteis | You all did/made |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | hicieron | They/You all did/made |
📌Near Future (Voy a + Infinitive):
- “Yo voy a hacer mi tarea mañana.” (“I am going to do my homework tomorrow.”)
- “Él va a hacer una reserva para la cena.” (“He is going to make a reservation for dinner.”)
- “Nosotros vamos a hacer una fiesta este fin de semana.” (“We are going to have a party this weekend.”)
- “Tú vas a hacer un regalo para tu madre.” (“You are going to make a gift for your mother.”)
Future Tense Conjugation of “Hacer”
| Subject | Conjugation | English Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | voy a hacer | I am going to do/make |
| Tú | vas a hacer | You are going to do/make |
| Él/Ella/Usted | va a hacer | He/She/You are going to do/make |
| Nosotros/Nosotras | vamos a hacer | We are going to do/make |
| Vosotros/Vosotras | vais a hacer | You all are going to do/make |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | van a hacer | They/You all are going to do/make |
EJERCICIO 3
Exercises with Hacer in Spanish
Talking About the Weather
When discussing the weather in Spanish, you’ll often use the verb “hacer” to express different weather conditions. Let’s take a look at some common phrases:
📌Past tense
Ayer hizo mucho calor.
Yesterday was very hot.Hace dos días hizo frío.
Two days ago it was cold.La semana pasada hizo sol.
Last week it was sunny.
📌Present Tense
Hace calor.
It’s hot.Hace frío.
It’s cold.Hace sol.
It’s sunny.Hace viento.
It’s windy.Hace buen tiempo.
The weather is nice.Hace mal tiempo.
The weather is bad.Hace fresco.
It’s cool.
📌Near Future
Mañana hará viento.
Tomorrow it will be windy.El fin de semana hará buen tiempo.
The weekend will have nice weather.
Exercises with Hacer About the weather in Spanish
Elevate Your Spanish Learning with ChidoLingo
Hey there, now you’re equipped with the power of “hacer” and “haber”! These two verbs are like keys that unlock various language scenarios, from talking about the weather to expressing completed actions. You’ve covered a lot of ground, and with practice, you’ll continue to refine your Spanish skills. Ready for more challenges? Join us in the ChidoLingo Challenge and take your language journey to the next level!
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