A face ("to do, to make") is among the half-dozen most frequent verbs in the language. It is a third-conjugation verb (short infinitive in -e: a face) and it is irregular, with the recurring stem alternation between fac- and fac-/fă-: the vowel of the stem shifts to ă in many forms (făceam, făcut, făcând). Like English "do/make," it covers an enormous range of activities, and Romanian packs hundreds of fixed expressions onto it — from a face cumpărături ("to do the shopping") to the universal greeting Ce faci? ("How are you / What are you up to?").
The single most important spelling point for learners: the participle is făcut, with ă. Writing facut is a genuine orthographic error, not a typo, and it is the most common mistake English speakers make with this verb.
Prezent indicativ
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | fac |
| tu | faci |
| el / ea | face |
| noi | facem |
| voi | faceți |
| ei / ele | fac |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | făceam |
| tu | făceai |
| el / ea | făcea |
| noi | făceam |
| voi | făceați |
| ei / ele | făceau |
Perfect compus
Auxiliary a avea plus the participle făcut.
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | am făcut |
| tu | ai făcut |
| el / ea | a făcut |
| noi | am făcut |
| voi | ați făcut |
| ei / ele | au făcut |
Mai-mult-ca-perfectul (pluperfect)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | făcusem |
| tu | făcuseși |
| el / ea | făcuse |
| noi | făcuserăm |
| voi | făcuserăți |
| ei / ele | făcuseră |
Viitor (future)
| Person | voi-future (formal) | o să-future (informal) |
|---|---|---|
| eu | voi face | o să fac |
| tu | vei face | o să faci |
| el / ea | va face | o să facă |
| noi | vom face | o să facem |
| voi | veți face | o să faceți |
| ei / ele | vor face | o să facă |
Conjunctiv prezent
The third person is irregular: să facă (not să face).
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | să fac |
| tu | să faci |
| el / ea | să facă |
| noi | să facem |
| voi | să faceți |
| ei / ele | să facă |
Condițional prezent
Conditional auxiliary (aș, ai, ar…) plus the short infinitive face.
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | aș face |
| tu | ai face |
| el / ea | ar face |
| noi | am face |
| voi | ați face |
| ei / ele | ar face |
Imperativ
The singular imperative is the short, irregular fă! The plural is faceți! The negative singular uses the infinitive: nu face!
| Type | Singular (tu) | Plural (voi) |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | fă! | faceți! |
| Negative | nu face! | nu faceți! |
Non-finite forms
| Form | Romanian |
|---|---|
| Infinitive (short / long) | (a) face / facere |
| Gerunziu | făcând |
| Participiu | făcut |
| Supin | de făcut |
Usage
Like English "do/make," a face is a light verb: it pairs with dozens of nouns to form fixed activity expressions where the noun carries the real meaning. English forces a choice between "do" and "make" (you make a decision but do the dishes); Romanian does not split the verb, so a single a face covers both — a face o alegere ("to make a choice"), a face curat ("to do the cleaning"). When in doubt, a face is usually the right verb.
The all-purpose greeting and the verb's most common collocations:
Salut, ce faci?
Hi, how are you / what are you up to?
Trebuie să fac cumpărături după serviciu.
I have to do the shopping after work.
Mă duc să fac un duș, vin în zece minute.
I'm going to take a shower, I'll be there in ten minutes.
Mama face mâncare în fiecare seară.
Mum makes dinner every evening.
The supine de făcut expresses what there is to be done.
Am atâtea de făcut înainte de plecare.
I have so much to do before leaving.
The imperative fă! in everyday encouragement:
Hai, fă-ți curaj și sună-l!
Come on, pluck up your courage and call him!
The verb also covers "to amount to / cost" in informal price talk:
Cât face totul?
How much does it all come to?
Nu face nimic, lasă.
It doesn't matter, never mind.
Common Mistakes
❌ Am facut tema aseară.
Incorrect — the participle is făcut, with ă, not facut.
✅ Am făcut tema aseară.
I did my homework last night.
❌ Vreau să face o poză.
Incorrect — the 3rd-person subjunctive is facă, not face.
✅ Vreau să facă o poză.
I want him to take a photo.
❌ Face!
Incorrect as a command — the singular imperative is the short form fă!
✅ Fă-o acum!
Do it now!
❌ Eu faci mereu aceeași greșeală.
Incorrect — the 'eu' form is fac, not faci.
✅ Eu fac mereu aceeași greșeală.
I always make the same mistake.
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