Germinar Examples, Sentences and Quiz in Spanish

Introduction

germinar means "to germinate" in English, and it is a verb you will use constantly once you start speaking Spanish for real. This page shows germinar in everyday sentences, grouped by meaning, then puts it into two short conversations, lists the mistakes learners actually make, and finishes with a ten-question quiz and answers to the most common questions. Every sentence below uses a real form of germinar, so you can copy the patterns and change the person, the tense and the complement to make your own versions. Start with the examples, say them aloud, and then try the quiz without looking back.

Example sentences with germinar

Everyday use

Germinar means to germinate. The sentences below show it in everyday use, in different tenses and persons.

  1. En primavera, yo germino — "In spring, I germinate"
  2. Él germina las semillas — "He germinates the seeds"
  3. Yo germiné con calor — "I germinated with warmth"
  4. En primavera, yo germinaba — "In spring, I used to germinate"
  5. Yo germinaré las semillas — "I will germinate the seeds"
  6. Yo he germinado con calor — "I have germinated with warmth"

In the past and the future

The same verb in the past and the future: the form changes, but the meaning stays the same.

  1. Él germinó con calor — "He germinated with warmth"
  2. En primavera, él germinaba — "In spring, he used to germinate"
  3. Tú germinarás las semillas — "You will germinate the seeds"
  4. Yo germinaría con calor — "I would germinate with warmth"
  5. En primavera, yo había germinado — "In spring, I had germinated"
  6. Nosotros germinamos las semillas — "We germinate the seeds"

Germinar in conversation

The two dialogues below show germinar in natural conversation. Read both parts aloud, then try to continue each dialogue with a sentence of your own.

Dialogue 1

  • ¿En primavera, tú germinas? — "Do you germinate in spring?"
  • Sí, en primavera, yo germino cada día. — "Yes, In spring, I germinate every day."
  • ¿Y ayer? ¿Tú germinaste las semillas? — "And yesterday? Did you germinate the seeds?"
  • Sí, yo germiné las semillas. — "Yes, I germinated the seeds."
  • Mañana, yo germinaré con calor también. — "Tomorrow, I will germinate with warmth too."

Dialogue 2

  • ¿En primavera, vosotros germináis? — "Do you germinate in spring?"
  • Sí, en primavera, nosotros germinamos los fines de semana. — "Yes, In spring, we germinate at the weekends."
  • ¿Y ellos? ¿Ellos germinan las semillas? — "And them? Do they germinate the seeds?"
  • Sí, ellos germinan las semillas también. — "Yes, They germinate the seeds too."
  • Mañana nosotros germinaremos las semillas otra vez. — "Tomorrow we will germinate the seeds again."

Useful phrases with germinar

Four patterns you can use with germinar in any conversation. The infinitive stays the same; only the first verb changes.

  • Voy a germinar en primavera. — "I am going to germinate in spring."
  • Quiero germinar las semillas. — "I want to germinate the seeds."
  • Me gusta germinar con calor. — "I like to germinate with warmth."
  • Acabo de germinar en primavera. — "I have just germinated in spring."

Common mistakes with germinar in everyday use

Mistake 1

  • Wrong: Ellos germina en primavera.
  • Right: En primavera, ellos germinan.
  • Why: Ellos needs the ellos form germinan. The singular germina belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

Mistake 2

  • Wrong: Todos los días, yo germiné.
  • Right: Todos los días, yo germino.
  • Why: Todos los días means every day, so the action is a habit and needs the present tense. The preterite is for one finished action, not for routines.

Mistake 3

  • Wrong: Yo soy germinado las semillas.
  • Right: Yo he germinado las semillas.
  • Why: Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he germinado, has germinado, ha germinado.

Mistake 4

  • Wrong: Ayer, yo germino.
  • Right: Ayer, yo germiné.
  • Why: Ayer means yesterday, so the action is finished and needs the preterite (germiné). The present (germino) is for habits and for now.

Mistake 5

  • Wrong: Espero que él germina en primavera.
  • Right: Espero que él germine en primavera.
  • Why: After espero que, Spanish needs the present subjunctive: germine. The indicative form would be wrong here.

Quiz: germinar in use

Ten questions on germinar across the tenses. The answers are explained, so read them even when you get a question right.

1. What is the I form of germinar in the present tense?

  • (a) germináramos
  • (b) germinabais
  • (c) germináis
  • (d) germino

Answer: (d) germino. The I form in the present is germino.

2. What is the he / she form of germinar in the present tense?

  • (a) germina
  • (b) germinen
  • (c) germinarías
  • (d) habríais germinado

Answer: (a) germina. The he / she form in the present is germina.

3. What is the he / she form of germinar in the preterite tense?

  • (a) hemos germinado
  • (b) germiné
  • (c) germinaríamos
  • (d) germinó

Answer: (d) germinó. The he / she form in the preterite is germinó.

4. What is the I form of germinar in the imperfect tense?

  • (a) germinéis
  • (b) germinabas
  • (c) germinaba
  • (d) habría germinado

Answer: (c) germinaba. The I form in the imperfect is germinaba.

5. What is the I form of germinar in the future tense?

  • (a) habríamos germinado
  • (b) germinó
  • (c) germino
  • (d) germinaré

Answer: (d) germinaré. The I form in the future is germinaré.

6. What is the I form of germinar in the present perfect tense?

  • (a) germinas
  • (b) habrá germinado
  • (c) he germinado
  • (d) germinaran

Answer: (c) he germinado. The I form in the present perfect is he germinado.

7. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ las semillas.

  • (a) germinen
  • (b) germine
  • (c) germines
  • (d) germinéis

Answer: (b) germine. The he / she form in the present subjunctive is germine.

8. What is the we form of germinar in the present tense?

  • (a) germinamos
  • (b) germine
  • (c) germinarías
  • (d) habré germinado

Answer: (a) germinamos. The we form in the present is germinamos.

9. What is the I form of germinar in the preterite tense?

  • (a) habría germinado
  • (b) germiné
  • (c) habréis germinado
  • (d) han germinado

Answer: (b) germiné. The I form in the preterite is germiné.

10. What is the they form of germinar in the present tense?

  • (a) has germinado
  • (b) germinabais
  • (c) germino
  • (d) germinan

Answer: (d) germinan. The they form in the present is germinan.

Frequently asked questions about germinar

Is germinar regular?

Yes. Germinar is a regular -ar verb: germino, germinas, germina. See the full conjugation of germinar for every tense.

What is the past participle of germinar?

The past participle is germinado, used with haber in the perfect tenses: he germinado. The gerund is germinando, used with estar: estoy germinando.

How do I say “I germinate” in the past?

For one finished action, use the preterite: Yo germiné las semillas. For a habit in the past, use the imperfect: Yo germinaba con calor.

How can I practise germinar?

Start with the examples above: say each sentence aloud, then change the person and the complement. Then take the quiz, and finish with the Verb Quiz and the Conjugation Practice tools, which test the same forms in a different order. A few minutes a day with one verb is worth more than an hour once a week.

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