Present of facer

Level 1

Facer means "to do" or "to make". Its present forms are fago, fas, fai, facemos, facedes, fan. Que fas? means "What are you doing?"

How It Works

The forms

  • eu fago (I do, I make)
  • ti fas (you do)
  • el, ela, vostede fai (he, she does; you do, formal)
  • nós facemos (we do)
  • vós facedes (you all do)
  • eles, elas, vostedes fan (they do; you do, formal plural)

Do and make. English has two verbs here, but Galician uses facer for both: Que fas? (What are you doing?), Fago a cea. (I am making dinner.) Everyday phrases include facer a compra (to do the shopping), facer a cama (to make the bed) and facer deporte (to play sports).

Right now or usually. The simple present covers both: Que fas? can mean "What are you doing?" or "What do you do?", depending on the situation.

Weather and time. The fai form describes the weather: Fai frío. (It is cold.), Fai sol. (It is sunny.) See talking about the weather. Fai can also mean "ago": Fai dous anos (two years ago). See time ago.

Birthdays. Galician says facer anos for "to have a birthday": Mañá fago anos. (Tomorrow is my birthday.)

Regional forms. In a narrow strip in the east of Lugo and Ourense you may hear fais and fain. The standard forms are fas and fan.

The command for ti is also fai (Fai os deberes!, Do your homework!). See irregular commands.

Examples (6)

  1. Que fas?

    What are you doing?

    Word by Word: What you-do?

  2. Fago a cea.

    I am making dinner.

    Word by Word: I-make the dinner.

  3. Os sábados facemos a compra.

    On Saturdays we do the shopping.

  4. Hoxe fai moito frío.

    It is very cold today.

    Word by Word: Today makes much cold.

    Weather expressions use fai, with no subject.

  5. Que facedes esta tarde?

    What are you all doing this afternoon?

  6. Mañá fago anos.

    Tomorrow is my birthday.

    Word by Word: Tomorrow I-make years.

    Facer anos means "to have a birthday".

Common Mistakes

  • Using the regular-looking form faces for ti.

    Que faces?
    Que fas?

    Facer is irregular. The ti form is the short fas, not faces.

  • Using the Spanish form hago.

    Eu hago a cea.
    Eu fago a cea.

    The Galician eu form is fago, with f and g.

  • Using the Spanish hace for the weather.

    Hace frío.
    Fai frío.

    Galician weather expressions use fai, the el/ela form of facer.

How It Connects

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Present of facerLevel 1

Learn This First

Facer has an irregular present paradigm.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

facer