Meaning
The act of posing inquiries to gain information.
Cultural Background
Spaniards are known for being very direct. Asking '¿Cuánto ganas?' (How much do you earn?) or '¿Por qué no tienes hijos?' (Why don't you have kids?) is more common than in English-speaking cultures. Politeness is key. It is common to use 'diminutives' to soften a question, like '¿Te puedo hacer {una|f} preguntita?' to make it seem less intrusive. Argentines love debate and 'psicoanálisis'. Making deep, probing questions about feelings and motives is a national pastime during coffee meetings. Formal address (using 'Usted') is common even among friends in some regions. This changes how you 'hacer preguntas'—it becomes '¿Le puedo hacer {una|f} pregunta?' instead of 'te'.
The 'Softener'
Always start with '¿Puedo hacerte {una|f} pregunta?' before asking something personal. It makes you sound much more polite and native.
Avoid Redundancy
Never say 'preguntar {una|f} pregunta'. It's the #1 giveaway that you are translating literally from English.
Meaning
The act of posing inquiries to gain information.
The 'Softener'
Always start with '¿Puedo hacerte {una|f} pregunta?' before asking something personal. It makes you sound much more polite and native.
Avoid Redundancy
Never say 'preguntar {una|f} pregunta'. It's the #1 giveaway that you are translating literally from English.
Eye Contact
When you 'haces preguntas' in Spanish-speaking cultures, maintain steady eye contact. Looking away can seem like you aren't actually interested in the answer.
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'hacer' in the present tense.
Yo siempre _______ preguntas en la clase de español.
The 'yo' form of 'hacer' is irregular: 'hago'.
Which sentence is natural in Spanish?
Select the correct option:
'Hacer {una|f} pregunta' is the correct collocation and 'pregunta' is feminine.
Complete the dialogue with the correct past tense form.
Juan: '¿Qué te dijo el jefe?' María: 'Él me _______ muchas preguntas sobre el proyecto.'
The third-person singular preterite of 'hacer' is 'hizo'.
Match the situation with the most appropriate phrase.
Situations and Phrases:
Each context requires a specific nuance of the act of questioning.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Ask vs. Hacer
Practice Bank
4 exercisesYo siempre _______ preguntas en la clase de español.
The 'yo' form of 'hacer' is irregular: 'hago'.
Select the correct option:
'Hacer {una|f} pregunta' is the correct collocation and 'pregunta' is feminine.
Juan: '¿Qué te dijo el jefe?' María: 'Él me _______ muchas preguntas sobre el proyecto.'
The third-person singular preterite of 'hacer' is 'hizo'.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Each context requires a specific nuance of the act of questioning.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsEs neutral. Se puede usar con amigos, profesores o jefes.
No, 'pregunta' es siempre femenino: '{una|f} pregunta'.
'Interrogar' es mucho más serio, como la policía con un criminal.
Se dice 'hice {una|f} pregunta' (yo) o 'hizo {una|f} pregunta' (él/ella).
Porque es redundante en español, como decir 'subir arriba'.
Es una pregunta que no espera respuesta, se usa para enfatizar algo.
Sí, la frase es la misma, pero el tono puede ser más directo en España.
Es mejor decir 'tener {una|f} duda' o 'plantear {una|f} duda'.
Diciendo: '¿Puedo hacer {una|f} pregunta?'.
Sí, los profesores siempre dicen: '¿Alguien quiere hacer {una|f} pregunta?'.
Related Phrases
Responder
contrastTo answer
Plantear {una|f} duda
similarTo pose a doubt
Pedir información
builds onTo ask for information
Interrogar
specialized formTo interrogate
