The verb faire (to do, to make)
Another verb you’ll come across all the time is faire (to do, to make). Let’s look at its conjugation:
je fais - I do
tu fais - you
il/elle fait - he/she does
nous faisons - we do
vous faites - you do
ils/elles font - they do
Qu’est-ce que vous faites ce soir?
What are you doing tonight?
Nous faisons un gâteau.
We’re making a cake.
Il ne sait pas quoi faire.
He does not know what to do.
Faire is also used in expressions relating to chores, activities, sports, etc.
Elle fait les courses ici.
She shops here.
Tu ne fais jamais la cuisine?
You never cook?
Il fait le ménage le samedi.
He does the house cleaning on Saturdays.
Viens faire une promenade!
Come take a walk!
L’enfant fait la vaisselle.
The child is doing the dishes.
Je ne veux pas faire la queue.
I don’t want to stand in line.
Ça fait combien?
How much does it cost?
Tu fais du vélo?
Do you ride a bike?
Vous faites du sport?
Do you play sports?
Faire is used, with the impersonal third-person singular il, in most expressions relating to the weather.
Quel temps fait-il?
What’s the weather like?
Il fait beau.
It is nice.
Il fait froid.
It is cold.
Il fait frais.
It is cool.
Il fait doux.
It is mild.
Il fait chaud.
It is hot.
A few verbs relating to the weather are used in the impersonal il form, without faire.
Il pleut.
It is raining.
Il neige.
It is snowing.
Il grêle.
It is hailing.
Il bruine.
It is drizzling
The causative form
The causative form is, in most cases, used to express the idea of having something done by someone or of causing something to happen. It is formed with the verb faire followed by an infinitive.
Elle écrit la lettre elle-même.
She writes the letter herself.
Elle fait écrire la lettre par sa secrétaire.
She has the letter written by her secretary.
Ils envoient le document.
They send the document.
Ils font envoyer le document.
They have the document sent.
Elle fait la robe.
She is making the dress.
Elle fait faire la robe.
She is having the dress made.