español · A2 · verb · 4 minutes
Hacer in the preterite
Own the hic- pattern and its crucial third-person form hizo.
Understand the choice
Hacer uses the strong stem hic- for a completed action or creation, with one spelling adjustment in the third-person singular. Learn hizo as a whole rather than trying to predict it from hice.
Core rule: Hacer uses hic- in the preterite, but the third-person singular is hizo.
Notice it in context
Hice la reserva y ellos hicieron las maletas.
I made the reservation and they packed the suitcases.
Hacer uses hic- in the preterite, but the third-person singular is hizo.
Mi hermano hizo la cena.
My brother made dinner.
Third-person hizo changes c to z.
Hicimos todo lo posible.
We did everything possible.
Hicimos uses the strong stem hic-.
What to remember
- The full series is hice, hiciste, hizo, hicimos, hicisteis, hicieron.
- Hizo uses z so the spelling matches its /s/ sound before o.
Common trap: Do not write hico or hizieron. Only hizo changes c to z; hicieron returns to c before ie.