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"Hacer" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to do", and "dormir" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "to sleep". Learn more about the difference between "hacer" and "dormir" below.
hacer(
ah
-
sehr
)
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
transitive verb
a. to do
Haz los deberes.Do your homework.
a. to make
Hice la comida de mis hijos.I made my children's lunch.
b. to prepare
Nos reuniremos este fin de semana para hacer la presentación.We will meet this weekend to prepare the presentation.
a. to make
Hoy les enseñaré a hacer su propio sitio web.Today I'll show you how to make your own website.
a. to make
Estoy ocupado haciendo los preparativos para la fiesta.I'm busy making preparations for the party.
a. to do
Me mandó que lavara los platos pero ya lo había hecho.He told me to wash the dishes but I had already done it.
a. to make
Hizo una nueva amiga en el colegio.He made a new friend at school.
a. to make
La hizo llorar.He made her cry.
a. to think
Hacía la casa sola.I thought there was nobody at home.
a. to make
El dolor hizo mi vida miserable.The pain made my life a misery.
a. to do
Haz lo que te digo.Do as I say.
a. to make look
Ese peinado te hace más vieja.That hairstyle makes you look older.
a. to act
¡No hagas el mono en el colegio!Don't act the fool at school!
a. to make
Se dice que el doctor hace hasta seis cifras.They say the doctor makes at least six figures.
b. to earn
Mi hermanito hizo una fortuna vendiendo limonada.My little brother earned a fortune selling lemonade.
a. to take
Les hizo dos semanas manejar a California.It took them two weeks to drive to California.
a. to do
Hicimos 150 millas en el último viaje.We did 150 miles on the last vacation.
b. to cover
Podemos hacer más distancia si salimos de noche.We can cover more distance if we leave at night.
An impersonal verb is a verb with no apparent subject (e.g., Llueve en España.).
impersonal verb
16. (time)
a. it has been
Hace mucho tiempo que no te veo.It has been a long time since I've seen you.
a. to be
En invierno hace frío.It's cold in winter.
hacerse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
reflexive verb
a. to make oneself
Se hizo un vestido de seda.She made herself a silk dress.
a. to make oneself
Creo que voy a hacerme un puré de zanahorias esta noche.I think I'm going to make myself some carrot soup tonight.
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
pronominal verb
a. to pretend
No te hagas el santo; tú también te equivocas.Don't pretend to be a saint; you make mistakes, too.
b. to act
No te hagas el tonto conmigo.Don't act the fool with me.
a. to become
Su sueño era hacerse dentista.His dream was to become a dentist.
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
Ya va siendo hora de que se haga cortar el pelo.It's about time he had his hair cut.
Vamos a hacernos pintar la casa después del verano.We're going to have the house painted after the summer.
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
Daniela solo ayuda en clase para hacerse ver.Daniela only helps out in class to get noticed.
Deberíamos darle una oportunidad para hacerse oír.We should give him a chance to be heard.
a. to get used to
Pues no soy capaz de hacerme a la idea.Well, I can't get used to the idea.
a. to feel
Hoy se me hizo muy largo esperando los resultados de la prueba.Today felt really long waiting for my test results.
b.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
El curso se me está haciendo aburrido.I'm finding the course boring.
La película se me hizo interminable.The movie seemed interminable.
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dormir(
dohr
-
meer
)
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
intransitive verb
a. to sleep
Hay que dormir por lo menos seis horas cada noche.One should sleep at least six hours a night.
a. to spend the night
Dormí en casa de mi abuela.I spent the night at my grandmother's house.
b. to stay the night
Dormimos en casa de mis suegros el Día de Acción de Gracias.We stayed the night at my in-laws' on Thanksgiving.
a. to sleep together
Creo que Marco y Ana durmieron juntos anoche.I think Marco and Ana slept together last night.
a. to lie idle
Sus ahorros no han crecido porque ha dejado la cuenta dormir.His savings haven't grown because he let the account lie idle.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
transitive verb
a. to put to sleep
Regionalism used in the United States
(United States)
Duermo a mis niños con un cuento.I put my children to sleep with a story.
b. to get off to sleep
Voy a dormir los niños y luego regreso.I'm going to get the children off to sleep and then I'll be back.
c. to send to sleep (due to boredom)
Ese profesor duerme a sus estudiantes con su voz monótona.That teacher sends his students to sleep with his monotonous voice.
a. to put to sleep
Durmieron a mi perro para limpiarle los dientes.They put my dog to sleep in order to clean his teeth.
b. to put under
Lo durmió el cirujano antes de la operación.The surgeon put him under before the operation.
a. to put to sleep
Mi hermano tuvo que dormir a su perro porque tenía cáncer.My brother had to put his dog to sleep because it had cancer.
dormirse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
pronominal verb
a. to fall asleep
Me dormí a las 6 de la mañana.I fell asleep at 6 in the morning.
El programa era tan aburrido que me dormí.The program was so boring that I fell asleep.
b. to go to sleep
No pude dormirme anoche porque estaba preocupado por el examen de hoy.I couldn't go to sleep last night because I was worried about today's exam.
c. to get to sleep
¿Pudiste dormirte en la tienda de campaña?Did you manage to get to sleep in the tent?
a. to oversleep
Se durmió porque no oyó el despertador.She overslept because she didn't hear the alarm.
a. to go to sleep
No puedo ponerme en pie porque se me durmió la pierna.I can't stand up because my leg has gone to sleep.
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
No te duermas o no acabarás a tiempo.Don't slack off or you won't finish in time.
Por dormirse se perdió la clave para ganar el premio.He missed the clue to win the prize because he didn't stay on his toes.
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