Introduction
Many English-speaking learners of Brazilian Portuguese get confused by the verbs fazer and ter. Both can appear in expressions that look similar to English but function differently. This article compares fazer and ter, explains common fixed expressions, and gives clear rules and examples so you can speak more naturally.
Why fazer and ter cause confusion
In English we use verbs like do, make, have, and get in many idiomatic ways. Portuguese also uses fazer and ter in multiple senses: as main verbs, as auxiliaries in some periphrastic constructions, and inside set expressions. Because direct translations often fail, learners must learn patterns and collocations rather than translate word-for-word.
Core meanings at a glance
Fazer generally corresponds to English do or make and often expresses actions, weather, materials, and degrees of time or effort. Examples: fazer uma pergunta, fazer frio, fazer um bolo.
Ter mainly corresponds to English have and expresses possession, obligation in some colloquial uses (ter de), existence in some idioms, and age. Examples: ter um carro, ter de estudar, ter 30 anos.
Basic uses of fazer
Fazer is versatile. Here are the most common uses beginners should know.
Actions and creation
Use fazer when someone performs an action, creates something, or completes a task.
Examples:
Eu faço bolos aos fins de semana.
Ela fez o relatório ontem.
Weather and natural conditions
Brazilian Portuguese often uses fazer to describe weather expressions, where English uses to be. Note that many other languages use verbs like to be for weather, but Portuguese favors fazer for certain expressions.
Examples:
Hoje faz calor.
Fazia muito frio ontem de manhã.
Time expressions and duration
Fazer appears in expressions that state how long something has been happening, often with present tense expressions like fazer + time + que + present.
Examples:
Faz dois anos que eu moro aqui.
Faz uma semana que ele viajou.
Idiomatic and set phrases
Fazer is part of many idioms where the meaning is not literal. Learn common collocations rather than translating literally.
Examples:
Fazer sentido (to make sense)
Fazer as pazes (to make up)
Basic uses of ter
Ter often indicates possession, relationships, characteristics, and some necessities. It also forms some colloquial obligations and appears in common expressions about age and physical states.
Possession and relationships
Use ter to say someone has something or someone is related to someone.
Examples:
Eu tenho dois irmãos.
Ela tem um cachorro muito simpático.
Age and physical states
When expressing age in Portuguese, ter is used instead of the verb to be. Also use ter to indicate physical sensations in some contexts.
Examples:
Eu tenho 25 anos.
Ele tem fome agora.
Obligation: ter de + infinitive
In spoken and written Portuguese, obligation can be expressed with ter de + infinitive, which roughly corresponds to have to in English. Note that ter que + infinitive is also widely used colloquially and is often interchangeable in speech, but ter de is considered more formal and precise.
Examples:
Eu tenho de estudar para a prova amanhã. (more formal)
Eu tenho que estudar para a prova amanhã. (colloquial)
Existence and expressions
Ter appears in some fixed phrases to mean there is/there are informally, especially in spoken Brazilian Portuguese, though the impersonal verb haver or existir is more formal for written contexts.
Examples:
Tem muita gente na festa. (Informal: There are a lot of people at the party.)
Havia problemas com o projeto. (More formal: There were problems with the project.)
Key differences: when to use fazer vs ter
Understanding the difference often comes down to the function you need the verb to express. Ask yourself: am I expressing an action, weather, or making something? Then use fazer. Am I expressing possession, age, obligation, or physical state? Then use ter.
Action vs possession
If the sentence describes performing an action, choose fazer. If it describes holding or possessing something, choose ter.
Compare:
Eu faço exercício todos os dias. (I do exercise every day.)
Eu tenho um relógio novo. (I have a new watch.)
Weather and age: memorize the patterns
For weather use fazer. For age use ter. These are fixed conventions in Portuguese and must be memorized.
Examples:
Faz sol hoje.
Ela tem 18 anos.
Existence and impersonal uses
For formal written contexts, prefer haver or existir to express there is/there are. In casual speech, people often use ter. Be aware of register: in a test or formal writing, avoid tem/temos as impersonal existence verbs.
Examples:
Tem muita gente aqui. (Informal speech)
Há muitas pessoas aqui. (Formal writing)
Common expressions learners confuse
Below are specific expressions where beginners often pick the wrong verb. Learn the correct usage and a short explanation for each.
Fazer sentido vs Ter sentido
Use fazer sentido to say something makes sense. Although English uses to be logical, Portuguese uses fazer here because the idea is that information makes or creates sense.
Example:
Isso faz sentido para mim.
Fazer falta vs Ter falta
Fazer falta means to miss something or someone, or for something to be lacking in an impactful way. Ter falta is nonstandard; learners sometimes say it by analogy with English, but avoid it.
Examples:
Sinto falta da minha família. / Minha família me faz falta.
Faltam ingredientes na receita. (There are ingredients missing.)
Ter saudade vs Fazer saudade
Saudade uses ter. You have saudade of someone or something. Do not use fazer here; that would be incorrect.
Example:
Eu tenho saudade dos meus amigos do Brasil.
Fazer uma pergunta vs Ter uma pergunta
Both forms are possible but have slightly different focuses. Fazer uma pergunta emphasizes the action of asking. Ter uma pergunta emphasizes possession of the question in your mind and is often used when saying you have a question to ask.
Examples:
Posso fazer uma pergunta? (Can I ask a question?)
Eu tenho uma pergunta sobre o exercício. (I have a question about the exercise.)
Ter coragem vs Fazer coragem
Use ter coragem to mean to have courage. The phrase fazer coragem is less common and can mean to muster courage in some contexts, but do not assume they are interchangeable.
Examples:
Ele tem coragem de falar em público.
Ela tentou fazer coragem antes da entrevista. (She tried to give herself courage.)
Conjugation tips and quick reference
Beginners should familiarize themselves with basic present and past forms of both verbs because they appear frequently.
Present tense examples
Fazer: eu faço, você/ele faz, nós fazemos, eles fazem.
Ter: eu tenho, você/ele tem, nós temos, eles têm.
Past tense examples (pretérito perfeito)
Fazer: eu fiz, você/ele fez, nós fizemos, eles fizeram.
Ter: eu tive, você/ele teve, nós tivemos, eles tiveram.
Subjunctive and conditional notes
Both verbs are irregular in the subjunctive and conditional, and they appear in many subordinate clauses. Learn common patterns like que eu faça, que eu tenha, and conditional eu faria, eu teria. These forms are frequent and useful in polite requests, hopes, and hypothetical statements.
Examples:
Espero que você faça uma boa viagem.
Se eu tivesse mais tempo, eu faria aquele curso.
Usage notes and cultural context
Brazilian Portuguese is full of idiomatic phrases where these verbs appear in non-literal ways. Listening to native speakers, watching Brazilian TV, and reading simple texts will help you internalize these collocations.
Register and formality
As mentioned earlier, impersonal existence expressions vary by register. Use haver or existir in formal writing. Use tem and ter in casual speech. Similarly, ter de is slightly more formal than ter que for obligation.
Regional and colloquial variations
Brazil is vast and vocabulary or phrase frequency can vary by region. Some regions use certain expressions more commonly. For example, tem muita gente is universal in speech, but written newspapers will typically use há muita gente. Exposure to local speech will reveal these subtleties.
Listening and repetition strategies
Focus on chunks rather than single words. Learn expressions like fazer sentido, ter saudade, fazer frio, ter que estudar as whole units. Shadow native speakers by repeating after audio to train your ear and mouth to use these verbs correctly in context.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Beginners often rely on literal translation. Avoid this by learning the most frequent collocations and understanding the verb functions: action/creation for fazer, possession/state/obligation for ter. When in doubt, check a reliable dictionary or listen for natural usage in spoken sources.
Practical quick checks
If the phrase is about weather, time, or making/doing something, try fazer.
If it is about having/owning, age, a feeling like saudade or fome, or obligation, try ter.
Conclusion
Mastering the difference between fazer and ter takes practice, but understanding their core functions helps a lot. Remember: fazer for actions, weather, and making; ter for possession, age, states, and obligation. Learn common collocations, pay attention to register, and expose yourself to authentic Brazilian Portuguese to internalize these patterns.
