QUICK ANSWER
"Qué hace" is a form of "qué hace", a phrase which is often translated as "what he does". "Hizo" is a form of "hacer", a transitive verb which is often translated as "to do". Learn more about the difference between "qué hace" and "hizo" below.
qué hace(
keh
ah
-
seh
)A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
a. what he does
¿Tú sabes qué hace? - Trabaja en una fábrica de autos.Do you know what he does? - He works in a car factory.
b. what she does
¿Ella es Laura? Quiero preguntarle qué hace para ganarse la vida.Is she Laura? I want to ask her what she does for a living.
c. what it does
¿Para qué sirve esta cosa? - No tengo idea de qué hace.What's this thing for? - I have no idea what it does.
e. what she's doing
Dile a Diana que venga. - No sé qué hace, pero está ocupada.Tell Diana to come. - I'm not sure what she's doing, but she's busy.
f. what it's doing
No sé qué hace en tu casa, pero ese libro es mío.I don't know what it's doing in your house, but that book is mine.
h. what...is doing
Parece que ni siquiera él sabe qué hace.It looks like he doesn't even know what he’s doing.
2. (formal) (what you carry out; second person singular)
A word or phrase used to refer to the second person formal “usted” by their conjugation or implied context (e.g., usted).
b. what you're doing
Dígame usted qué hace para ayudar al medio ambiente.Tell me what you're doing to help the environment.
hacer(
ah
-
sehr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
2. (to produce)
b. to prepare
Nos reuniremos este fin de semana para hacer la presentación.We will meet this weekend to prepare the presentation.
3. (to create)
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.
6. (to acquire)
7. (to cause)
8. (to imagine)
12. (to behave)
13. (to gross)
14. (to take time)
An impersonal verb is a verb with no apparent subject (e.g., Llueve en España.).
16. (time)
hacerse
A reflexive verb is a verb that indicates that the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., Miguel se lava.).
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.).
20. (to feign)
a. to pretend
No te hagas el santo; tú también te equivocas.Don't pretend to be a saint; you make mistakes, too.
21. (to turn into)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word 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.
23. (to manage to)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word 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.
25. (to appear)
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. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
El curso se me está haciendo aburrido.I'm finding the course boring.
La película se me hizo interminable.The movie seemed interminable.
