hacían
/ah-SEE-ahn/
they used to do
The children used to do this activity every afternoon, showing a routine past action.
hacían(Verb)
they used to do
?Habitual past action
,they were doing
?Ongoing past action
you all used to do
?Speaking to a group in the past (ustedes)
📝 In Action
Todos los veranos, mis abuelos hacían viajes largos.
A1Every summer, my grandparents used to do long trips.
Cuando llegué, ellos hacían la tarea en la biblioteca.
A2When I arrived, they were doing their homework in the library.
Ustedes siempre hacían lo correcto, por eso los admiraban.
B1You all always did the right thing, that's why they admired you.
💡 Grammar Points
The Imperfect Tense's Job
The form 'hacían' describes actions that were repeated often in the past (like habits) or actions that were happening continuously when something else interrupted them.
Irregularity of Hacer
Although most verbs ending in -er follow a pattern in the imperfect (like 'comían'), 'hacer' is slightly irregular because it changes the 'c' to a 'g' in the present tense, but it keeps the 'c' (or 'z') in the preterite and imperfect.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Imperfect vs. Preterite
Mistake: "They use 'hicieron' (preterite) when they mean 'hacían' (imperfect)."
Correction: Use 'hicieron' (they did/made, finished action) for single, completed events. Use 'hacían' (they used to do/were doing) for ongoing backgrounds or past routines.
⭐ Usage Tips
Look for Time Clues
If you see phrases like 'siempre' (always), 'a menudo' (often), or 'cada día' (every day) referring to the past, 'hacían' is probably the correct choice.
They used to make sandcastles when they visited the coast, illustrating habitual creation.
hacían(Verb)
they used to make
?Habitual past creation
,they were making
?Ongoing past creation
📝 In Action
Los artesanos hacían las vasijas de barro con mucho cuidado.
A1The artisans used to make the clay pots with great care.
Ellas hacían una torta cuando sonó el teléfono.
A2They were making a cake when the phone rang.
💡 Grammar Points
Making vs. Doing
In Spanish, 'hacer' covers both English concepts of 'to do' and 'to make.' Context tells you which meaning is correct. If they are building or preparing something, it means 'to make'.
Their efforts were causing the plant to grow rapidly, illustrating the production of an effect.
hacían(Verb)
they were causing
?Producing an effect
,they were pretending
?Pretending (hacerse + noun)
📝 In Action
Los chistes que contaban siempre hacían reír a la audiencia.
B1The jokes they told always made the audience laugh (were causing the audience to laugh).
Ustedes se hacían los dormidos para no ayudar.
B2You all were pretending to be asleep so you wouldn't have to help. (Reflexive use: 'hacerse')
💡 Grammar Points
Hacer with Feelings
When 'hacer' is used with certain nouns (like reír or llorar), it means to cause that reaction. For example, 'hacían llorar' means 'they were making someone cry'.
The Reflexive Form (Hacerse)
If you see 'se hacían,' it often changes the meaning to 'they were pretending to be' or 'they were becoming' something.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: hacían
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'hacían' to describe a finished action that happened once?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'hacían' and 'hacía'?
'Hacían' is used when the subject is plural (ellos/ellas/ustedes - they/you all). 'Hacía' is used when the subject is singular (yo/él/ella/usted - I/he/she/you formal). Both mean 'used to do' or 'was/were doing' in the past.
Why is 'hacían' used for weather sometimes?
The base verb 'hacer' is used in many weather phrases, but for weather, the singular form 'hacía' is always used because the subject is an implied 'it' (impersonal). For example: 'Hacía frío' (It was cold).