Let’s start with… hacer
Languages use different structures and mental images to express the same ideas in different ways, or sometimes different ideas in the same way… For instance, did you know that the verbs “to do” and “to make” are just one verb in Spanish? “Hacer”.
Here’s how to use them in context:
- to make a present: hacer un regalo
- to do a favour: hacer un favor
Esperar
Another verb in Spanish that gathers many different ones in English is the verb “esperar”. For this one, there are not only two but three different verbs in English: “to wait”, the basic meaning, but also “to hope” and “to expect”.
Here you can see how to use them in Spanish.
- Estoy esperando al bus. I’m waiting for the bus.
- Espero que ganes el premio. I hope you win the prize.
- No esperes que venga. Don’t expect him to come.
I mean… there is certainly a gain in having different verbs for different meanings, but there is also a poetic beauty in having one word for different meanings.
This way, you see connections you wouldn’t see otherwise.
Like for instance, in this example, seeing that hope in every expectation, while you are waiting for it to come true. All of that is “esperar”.
