Practice with Complicated Verbs - Hacer

Question

There are a number of verbs that continue to cause me problems (and probably always will). Every couple of days I will present a new verb and I would like us to explore the variety of different usages of that verb. Some will be verb phrases, some will idiomatic, some will be reflexive or pronomial and some will be straight forward.

Today's verb is Hacer(se).

Present one example of a usage of the this verb. You do not have to write sentences in English and Spanish as I do not have a corrector for the Spanish. Just present a usage, maybe one that you struggle with occasionally.

I have two that cause me trouble but I will start with one and if no one covers my other I will present it later on.

hacer caso (de) = to pay attention, to mind, to matter

Every time I hear this I have to stop and think. It just refuses to embed itself in my head as a natural saying.

Hi all. I am trying to find and put the reference to each usage as a comment below your answers. I will continue to do so, but if you would like you can put it into your answer and help me out. I am basically copying the line from the dictionary that describes each usage.

As of 19 answers here is a list of the uses we have explored. There are many, many more. Feel free to try another one.

• Hacer caso (de) - to take advise, to pay attention, to mind, to matter
• Hacerse la vista gorda - to look the other way, to ignore
• Hacerse el sordo - to pretend not to hear
• Hacer de - to act or perform the duties of
• Hacerse - impersonal
• Hacer que - feign or pretend
• Hacerse algo - to get hold of something
• Hacer falta - to be necessary
• Hacer favor - to do a favor
• Hacerse - to become
• Hacer la maleta - to pack one's bags
• Hacer el indio - to play the fool
• Hacerse humo - to disappear into thin air
• Hacer de - to play a role
• Hacer de cuento - to pretend
• Hacerse hombre/amigos - to become a man/friends
• Hacer por - to try one's best
• No hacer más que + infinitivo - ???

Great idea. - katydew, Nov 15, 2013

Great activity sir! - rogspax, Nov 15, 2013

I'm glad you guys like it. I hope that it helps us all. - gringojrf, Nov 15, 2013

Answer 1

hacerse de la vista gorda - look the other way, pretend not to notice

Good one. I haven't heard this one before. - gringojrf, Nov 14, 2013

Margherite, isit hacerse "de" la vista gorda as you wrtoe it or without the "de" as on the picture? - gringojrf, Nov 14, 2013

hacer la vista gorda/hacerse el tonto see the diff? - chileno, Nov 14, 2013

Hi gringo...I thought the 'de' should be there, but apparantly not. No chileno, I don't. - 0095ca4c, Nov 14, 2013

Hola Margherite nice picture to go along with the verb - pmikan-pam, Nov 14, 2013

hacerse de = to acquire - chileno, Nov 14, 2013

Thank you chileno. I think I've got it. @ gringo...no 'de' :-) I really fudged that one up. - 0095ca4c, Nov 15, 2013

:) - chileno, Nov 26, 2013

Answer 2

Hazme caso y no lo hagas esto.

Take my advice and don't do that.

This is a sentence that I heard a lot of time; "hacer caso" here has a meaning of "take advice" or "listen to" someone (in my opinion) - 00b5f6c6, Nov 14, 2013

Cool. Thanks. - gringojrf, Nov 14, 2013

So kind of 'pay attention to me". - gringojrf, Nov 14, 2013

:-) - pmikan-pam, Nov 14, 2013

Nice :) - Kiwi-Girl, Nov 14, 2013

You're welcome gringojrf.. Hello Pam and Kiwi.. - 00b5f6c6, Nov 15, 2013

:) - annierats, Nov 15, 2013

Holla Annie :) - 00b5f6c6, Nov 15, 2013

Answer 3

From my recent post and correction: Si hay un problema los embotellamientos se hacen. If there is a problem, traffic jams occur (happen, result).

Thanks. - gringojrf, Nov 14, 2013

So another why to say ocirrir or suceder. - gringojrf, Nov 14, 2013

Answer 4

Hacerse el sordo: To pretend not to hear.

Thanks. You have a type. "not" - gringojrf, Nov 14, 2013

Joined with de, se, el, la, lo, it signifies to represent, to counterfeit, or to show what is not in reality. - gringojrf, Nov 14, 2013

Thanks Gringo - pmikan-pam, Nov 15, 2013

Good one. - annierats, Nov 15, 2013

Thanks Annie - pmikan-pam, Nov 15, 2013

Answer 5

****Hacer a alguien entender****

To make somebody understand/To get through to somebody.

"¿Crees que se lo has hecho entender?"

Very good. Very hard to do in reality. - gringojrf, Nov 27, 2013

Answer 6

Hice el papel de Julieta. I played the part of Juliet.

(Cine & Teatro) hacer de -> to play; (actuar) to act as (trabajar) - gringojrf, Nov 16, 2013

Answer 7

hacerse = to become ( a doctor, a teacher... )

Creo que este niño quiere hacerse médico.

I believe that this boy wants to become a doctor.

Sorry, Castor, I didn't see yours.. - annierats, Nov 15, 2013

(llegar a ser) to become - gringojrf, Nov 15, 2013

Answer 8

hacer la maleta-- to pack one's bag

(preparar) [+cama, comida] to make hacer el pelo/las uñas a algn to do sb's hair/nails; hacer la barba a algn to trim sb's beard hacer las maletas to pack one's bags - gringojrf, Nov 15, 2013

Answer 9

Hacer el indio = to play the fool

¡No hagas el indio ! Stop playing the fool!

could you use "hacerse el tonto" instead? "Hacer el indio" could really be thought of as a bit racist. I am not saying you are. Th phrase just really struck me. - deedeegill72, Nov 15, 2013

I meant could one use "hacerse el tonto" not you in particular. I appologise if that sounded judgmental - deedeegill72, Nov 15, 2013

It's a Spanish expression or idiom. It has the same meaning as 'hacer el tonto'. As for racism, maybe it's all in the eye of the beholder. Y por eso, voy a hacerme el sueco. Another idiom. ;-) - Castor77, Nov 15, 2013

In Mexico half of the population are mixed Spanish and Indigenous Tribal. Indigenous people do not all think "Indian" is a racist slur, sometimes these expressions require much research. - Jubilado, Nov 16, 2013

no not the word indian but referring to an indian as a fool. We have a phrase in English "indian giver" that bugs me too. Indian giver is someone who goes back on thier word. - deedeegill72, Nov 18, 2013

Answer 10

Hacer de cuenta - Pretend or Imagine. To make as if... To pretend that... To make believe that...

Example: Voy a hacer de cuenta que no te conozco.

I am going to pretend that I don't know you.

Excellent. This is new to me. I always use fingir. Thanks. - gringojrf, Nov 16, 2013

New to me too, thanks! - annierats, Nov 26, 2013

Answer 11

El la hace de presidente.

He acts as president.

Si amiga - pmikan-pam, Nov 14, 2013

Really? - gringojrf, Nov 14, 2013

Joined with the particle de, and the names of offices or professions, it signifies to perform their duties. - gringojrf, Nov 14, 2013

Completamente de acuerdo contigo, Annie. "El la hace de presidente". - 00e46f15, Nov 16, 2013

Thanks Suzy! - rac1, Nov 27, 2013

Answer 12

Hacer peso puede hacer daño a la espalda. (hacer peso muerte)

Weightlifting might damage your back

.

My energy level is improving.. maybe. - annierats, Nov 26, 2013

daño is a masculine noun. But I would just say ...puede dañar a la espalda. - gringojrf, Nov 26, 2013

Annie, I can't find a reference for this one. Can you post it? I would use levantar pesos rather than hacer pesos. But both may be correct. - gringojrf, Nov 26, 2013

I will try to find a reference.. Thanks for pointing out, daño, we call it a typo.., - annierats, Nov 27, 2013

http://www.meridatrainer.com/entrenamiento/7-razones-por-las-que-debes-hacer-peso-muerto - annierats, Nov 27, 2013

Answer 13

Impersonal with time - Hace diez años = ten years ago

Answer 14

No hacer más que infinitivo

I saw this on a perífrasis verbales list and would like to know what it means exactly.

My guess? One couldn't do more than (hacer algo).

I'd love some input on this one.

This image may be a close example but not exactly:

I think your poster says: There is nothing more to do.?? You answer: Don't do mas than ...... No hagas más que manejar. ?? - gringojrf, Nov 17, 2013

Now if I could just figure out how to use all these hacers. - katydew, Nov 18, 2013

Cuando no hay nada más que hacer, hacemos el flojo, claro. - annierats, Nov 26, 2013

Answer 15

Hacer por -> to try, to do one’s best