The Italian Verb “Fare”
Fare means “to do” and “to make” in Italian, and it is one of the most used verbs in the language. It is irregular: the present tense is faccio, fai, fa, facciamo, fate, fanno and the past participle is fatto. This lesson gives you the full conjugation of fare and its most useful meanings and expressions.
The Italian verb fare is very versatile, and has different translation in English. It is typically translated as “to do” or “to make”, but it is very commonly used in fixed expressions which must be learned by heart.
Fare is an irregular verb, which means it does not follow the typical conjugation pattern. Therefore, it requires specific attention.
“Fare”: Conjugation
Presente
The presente (present tense) is used to describe ongoing actions in the present and to inquire about someone’s activities or jobs.
| Presente | Present tense |
| io faccio | I do |
| tu fai | you do |
| lui/lei fa | he/she does |
| noi facciamo | we do |
| voi fate | you do |
| loro fanno | they do |
Io faccio la spesa al supermercato.
I do the grocery shopping at the supermarket.
Passato Prossimo
The passato prossimo (present perfect) is used to discuss completed actions in the past.
| Passato prossimo | Present perfect tense |
| io ho fatto | I did/I have done |
| tu hai fatto | you did/have done |
| lui/lei ha fatto | he/she did/have done |
| noi abbiamo fatto | we did/have done |
| voi avete fatto | you did/have done |
| loro hanno fatto | they did/have done |
Ho fatto una torta ieri.
I made a cake yesterday.
Imperfetto
The imperfetto (imperfect) is used to describe habitual actions or ongoing actions in the past.
| Imperfetto | Imperfect |
| io facevo | I did/used to do |
| tu facevi | you did/used to do |
| lui/lei faceva | he/she did/used to do |
| noi facevamo | we did/used to do |
| voi facevate | you did/used to do |
| loro facevano | they did/used to do |
Quando era giovane, Luca faceva lunghe passeggiate ogni giorno.
When he was young, Luca used to take long walks every day.
Futuro Semplice
The futuro (future) is used to express actions or events that will occur in the future and are yet to happen.
| Futuro semplice | Future Simple |
| io farò | I will do |
| tu farai | you will do |
| lui/lei farà | he/she will do |
| noi faremo | we will do |
| voi farete | you will do |
| loro faranno | they will do |
Farò una passeggiata domani
I will take a walk tomorrow.
Other Tenses of Fare
These are the other forms of fare you will need. The conditional is used to make polite requests and to say what you would do, and the subjunctive appears after verbs like credo che or voglio che.
| Condizionale (would do) | Congiuntivo presente | Congiuntivo imperfetto | Passato remoto | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| io | farei | faccia | facessi | feci |
| tu | faresti | faccia | facessi | facesti |
| lui, lei | farebbe | faccia | facesse | fece |
| noi | faremmo | facciamo | facessimo | facemmo |
| voi | fareste | facciate | faceste | faceste |
| loro | farebbero | facciano | facessero | fecero |
Che cosa faresti al mio posto?
What would you do in my place?
Credo che Marco faccia il medico.
I think Marco is a doctor.
Se avessi tempo, farei un corso di ceramica.
If I had time, I would take a pottery course.
Imperative, Gerund and Participle
| Imperativo | Italian | English |
|---|---|---|
| tu | Fai / Fa’ i compiti! | Do your homework! |
| Lei | Faccia pure! | Go ahead! (formal) |
| noi | Facciamo una pausa. | Let’s take a break. |
| voi | Fate attenzione! | Pay attention! |
The gerund is facendo (doing), used for example in the progressive form: Che cosa stai facendo? (What are you doing?). The past participle is fatto. Remember that fare takes avere as its auxiliary: Ho fatto, not Sono fatto.
When to use “Fare”
To do/to Make
When used with its most common translations, this verb is used to talk about actions that are performed or things that are created.
For example:
- Fare colazione (To have breakfast)
- Fare una torta (To make a cake)
- Fare sport (To do sports)
- Fare la doccia (To take a shower)
- Fare la spesa (To do the grocery shopping)
As you can see, not all these expressions are translated in English with “to do” or ” to make”.
Profession and Leisure Time
Fare is commonly employed to discuss one’s profession, leisure activities, and interests.
Faccio l’avvocato.
I am a lawyer.
Durante il mio tempo libero, faccio yoga per rilassarmi.
During my leisure time, I do yoga to relax.
Idiomatic Expressions
Fare is extensively used in Italian idiomatic expressions, which do not translate directly to English.
Fare il biglietto
To purchase a ticket.
Fare una domanda.
To ask a question.
Fare amicizia.
To make friends.
Fare una foto.
To take a picture.
Fare un brindisi.
To make a toast.
Check all the other meanings of fare in this post.
More Expressions With Fare
These are among the most common uses in everyday Italian. Many of them do not use “do” or “make” in English:
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| Che tempo fa? | What’s the weather like? |
| Fa caldo / Fa freddo | It’s hot / It’s cold |
| Quanto fa? | How much is it? |
| Due più due fa quattro. | Two plus two makes four. |
| Che lavoro fai? | What do you do for a living? |
| Faccio il medico. | I’m a doctor. |
| fare colazione, fare pranzo, fare cena | to have breakfast, lunch, dinner |
| fare il bagno | to take a bath, to go for a swim |
| fare una passeggiata, fare un giro | to go for a walk, to go for a ride or stroll |
| fare una pausa | to take a break |
| fare la fila | to queue |
| fare tardi | to be late, to stay up late |
| fare attenzione | to pay attention |
| fare paura | to scare |
| fare finta di | to pretend to |
| fare a meno di | to do without |
| fare parte di | to be part of |
| farcela | to manage, to make it |
| fare in tempo | to be on time, to make it in time |
Ce la faccio, grazie!
I can manage, thank you!
Mi fa paura il buio.
The dark scares me.
Non faccio in tempo a finire.
I won’t be able to finish in time.
For the expression fare finta, see the lesson on how to say to pretend in Italian. If you want more meanings of the verb, read the guide to the meanings of fare as well.
Fare Bene/Male
In Italian, the expressions fare bene and fare male are commonly used and means “to do something good” or “bad”.
The expression fare bene conveys the idea of doing something that is beneficial, positive, or advantageous. It can refer to actions that promote well-being, health, personal growth, or positive outcomes in general.
Lo sport fa bene al cuore e alle articolazioni.
Sport is good for the heart and joints.
Dormire a sufficienza fa bene al corpo e alla mente.
Getting enough sleep is good for the body and mind.
Opposingly, the expression fare male has different meanings depending on the context. It is typically used to convey the idea of causing harm, pain, or negative effects.
Mi fa male la testa.
I have a headache.
Fumare fa male alla salute.
Smoking is bad for your health.
Le sue parole mi hanno fatto molto male.
His/her words have deeply hurt me.
Remember that fare bene and fare male are idiomatic expressions, and their usage extends beyond the literal translation of ” to do good”, “to harm” or “to cause pain”.
Fare + Infinitive: Making Someone Do Something
When fare is followed by an infinitive, it means that you make someone do something or have something done:
Il film mi ha fatto piangere.
The movie made me cry.
Faccio riparare la macchina.
I’m having the car repaired.
This is a separate construction with its own rules, explained in the lesson on how to make someone do something in Italian.
Fare in Italian: Frequently Asked Questions
What does fare mean in Italian?
It means “to do” and “to make”, but it is also used for many actions that English expresses with other verbs, like fare la doccia (to take a shower) or fare una foto (to take a picture).
Is fare a regular verb?
No. It is irregular in almost all its tenses. The forms to memorize first are faccio, fai, fa, facciamo, fate, fanno and the participle fatto.
How do you say “to do” in Italian?
Use fare for actions (fare i compiti, to do homework). The English “do” in questions and negatives is not translated: “Do you speak Italian?” is Parli italiano? and “I don’t know” is Non lo so.
What is the difference between fare and fare + infinitive?
Fare alone is “to do” or “to make”. With an infinitive it means “to make or have someone do something”: Mi fa ridere (He/she makes me laugh).
Does fare take avere or essere?
It takes avere: Ho fatto una torta. The reflexive farsi takes essere: Mi sono fatto male (I hurt myself).
Mastering the Italian Verb Fare
The Italian verb fare plays a vital role in expressing actions, creating idiomatic expressions, and describing past events.
By understanding its conjugation in the present, present perfect, imperfect and future tenses, as well as its multiple meanings, learners can effectively communicate and comprehend Italian.
Embrace the versatility offare and enhance your linguistic skills in Italian.
