Fazer (to do/make) in Portuguese

Overview

Fazer (to do/make) (O Verbo Fazer) is a beginner (CEFR A1) topic in Portuguese grammar. Irregular verb 'fazer' (faço, fazes, faz, fazemos, fazeis, fazem) with weather expressions (faz calor/frio) and common phrases (fazer desporto, fazer anos).

Understanding fazer (to do/make) is essential for building correct Portuguese sentences and communicating effectively. This concept is introduced at the A1 level and forms part of the foundation for more advanced grammar structures.

Whether you are learning Brazilian or European Portuguese, mastering fazer (to do/make) will significantly improve your ability to express yourself naturally and accurately in a variety of contexts.

How It Works

Present tense conjugation of fazer:

Person	Form	Example
eu	faco	O que faco?
tu	fazes	O que fazes?
ele/ela/voce	faz	Faz calor hoje.
nos	fazemos	Fazemos o jantar.
vos	fazeis	Fazeis desporto?
eles/elas/voces	fazem	Fazem compras.

Common expressions with fazer:

Expression	Meaning
fazer calor/frio	to be hot/cold (weather)
fazer sol/vento	to be sunny/windy
fazer anos	to have a birthday
fazer desporto	to do sports
fazer compras	to go shopping
fazer perguntas	to ask questions
fazer sentido	to make sense

Examples in Context

Portuguese	English	Note
O que fazes?	What are you doing?
Faço desporto.	I do sports.
Faz calor hoje.	It's hot today.
Fazemos o jantar.	We're making dinner.
Faz sol hoje.	It is sunny today.	weather
Ele faz anos.	It is his birthday.
Faco compras.	I go shopping.
Faz sentido.	It makes sense.
Nao fazes nada!	You do nothing!

Common Mistakes

Applying wrong conjugation endings

• Wrong: Mixing up verb class endings (-AR/-ER/-IR)
• Right: Identify the verb class from the infinitive and apply the correct endings
• Why: Each verb class has distinct personal endings that must be kept separate.

Forgetting preposition requirements

• Wrong: Omitting required prepositions after certain verbs
• Right: Learn verbs together with their required prepositions
• Why: Many Portuguese verbs require specific prepositions that differ from English patterns.

Regularizing irregular forms

• Wrong: Applying regular patterns to an irregular verb
• Right: Check whether a verb is irregular before conjugating
• Why: Common verbs often have irregular forms that must be memorized.

Usage Notes

This concept appears across both Brazilian and European Portuguese, though specific usage patterns may differ between the two variants. At the A1 level, focus on understanding the core patterns before worrying about regional differences.

In everyday conversation, fazer (to do/make) is used frequently in both formal and informal contexts. Pay attention to how native speakers use it in the media you consume, and note any differences between Brazilian and Portuguese sources.

Practice Tips

1. Practice fazer (to do/make) with authentic Portuguese texts, listening for how native speakers use these forms in context.
2. Create flashcards with complete example sentences rather than isolated words to reinforce natural patterns.
3. Write short paragraphs using fazer (to do/make) and compare them with native-written texts to identify areas for improvement.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Regular -ER Verbs -- provides the foundational knowledge needed for fazer (to do/make)