When Hacer and Tener Mean To Be

Spanish uses hacer -- to make/to do instead of the to be verbs ser and estar in weather expressions such as:

  • Hace calor -- It makes heat -- It is hot
    Hace frío -- It makes cold -- It is cold
    Hace viento -- It makes windy -- It is windy
    Hace sol -- It makes sun -- It is sunny
    Hace fresco -- It makes coolness -- It is cool


Spanish uses tener -- to have instead of the to be verbs ser and estar in expressions such as:

  • Tengo hambre -- I have hunger -- I am hungry
    Tienes sed -- You have thirst -- You are thirsty
    Tiene frío -- He has coldness -- He is cold
    Tenemos calor -- We have heat -- We are hot
    Tenéis treinta años -- You-all have thirty years -- You-all are thirty years old
    Tienen sueño -- They have sleep -- They are sleepy


Ser and estar are used with hot and cold when not describing weather or living beings:

  • Esta sopa está muy caliente --  This soup is very hot
    El gazpacho es una sopa fría -- Gazpacho is a cold soup
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