Modelar Examples, Sentences & Quiz in Spanish

modelar means “to model” in English, and this page shows you how it actually sounds in everyday Spanish — not just the conjugation table, but the verb in real sentences, in short dialogues, and in the mistakes learners make with it. Modelar means to model, to shape clay, wax or another soft material into a figure. It is used in art classes, pottery and sculpture, and it is a fully regular verb. Below you will find twelve example sentences grouped by tense, two short dialogues, the most common mistakes with corrections, and a ten-question quiz with explained answers. If you want the full tables first, start with the full conjugation of modelar; if you want to study one tense in depth, see the modelar present tense page.

modelar in everyday use: examples with translations

In the present tense

  1. Yo modelo la arcilla en el taller. — “I model the clay in the workshop.”
  2. Él modela una figura de barro. — “He models a figure in clay.”
  3. Nosotros modelamos el rostro de la estatua. — “We model the face of the statue.”
  4. Ellos modelan con las manos en clase de arte. — “They model with my hands in art class.”

In the past

  1. Ayer, yo modelé una figura de barro. — “Yesterday, I modeled a figure in clay.”
  2. Antes, nosotros modelábamos el rostro de la estatua. — “Before, we used to model the face of the statue.”
  3. Él modeló con las manos en clase de arte. — “He modeled with my hands in art class.”
  4. Yo ya había modelado la arcilla en el taller antes de salir. — “I had already modeled the clay in the workshop before leaving.”

Plans, hopes and possibilities

  1. Mañana, tú modelarás la arcilla en el taller. — “Tomorrow, you will model the clay in the workshop.”
  2. Yo modelaría una figura de barro si tuviera más tiempo. — “I would model a figure in clay if I had more time.”
  3. Él ha modelado el rostro de la estatua. — “He has modeled the face of the statue.”
  4. Espero que él modele con las manos en clase de arte. — “I hope he models with my hands in art class.”

modelar in conversation

Two short dialogues that use modelar the way people really speak it. Notice how the verb changes with the person, and how the same verb fits different situations.

Two friends talk about their day.

  • Ana: Yo modelo la arcilla en el taller. — “I model the clay in the workshop.”
  • Bea: Él modela una figura de barro. — “He models a figure in clay.”
  • Ana: Ayer, yo modelé una figura de barro. — “Yesterday, I modeled a figure in clay.”
  • Bea: Mañana, tú modelarás la arcilla en el taller. — “Tomorrow, you will model the clay in the workshop.”

At home, talking about tomorrow.

  • Luis: Nosotros modelamos el rostro de la estatua. — “We model the face of the statue.”
  • Marta: Antes, nosotros modelábamos el rostro de la estatua. — “Before, we used to model the face of the statue.”
  • Luis: Yo modelaría una figura de barro si tuviera más tiempo. — “I would model a figure in clay if I had more time.”
  • Marta: Espero que él modele con las manos en clase de arte. — “I hope he models with my hands in art class.”

A short scene with modelar

A short scene shows how modelar works across the day. In the morning: Modelo la arcilla en el taller. In the afternoon: Modela una figura de barro. Yesterday it was different: Ayer, modelé el rostro de la estatua. And tomorrow: Mañana, modelaré con las manos en clase de arte. Four small moments, four tenses, one verb — that is how modelar sounds in real life. Try changing the person in each sentence: say it about yourself, about a friend, and about your family, and the forms will start to feel automatic.

Common mistakes with modelar

The errors learners actually make with modelar, each with the wrong form, the right form, and why the right form is right.

✗ Yo modela la arcilla en el taller.

✓ Correct: Yo modelo la arcilla en el taller.

The person matters: modela is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is modelo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.

✗ Ayer yo modelo una figura de barro.

✓ Correct: Ayer yo modelé una figura de barro.

The present and the preterite are different tenses: modelo is happening now, while modelé is a finished action in the past. Use the preterite with ayer.

✗ Treating modelar and moldear as identical in every context.

✓ Correct: Modelar means to model, while moldear means to mould, in a mould.

They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: modelar fits sentences such as Modelo la arcilla en el taller, while moldear belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.

✗ Yo soy modelado una figura de barro.

✓ Correct: Yo he modelado una figura de barro.

Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he modelado, has modelado, ha modelado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.

✗ De niño, yo modelé el rostro de la estatua todos los días.

✓ Correct: De niño, yo modelaba el rostro de la estatua todos los días.

For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (modelaba), not the preterite. The preterite (modelé) is for one finished action.

Quiz: modelar in use

Ten questions on modelar — its forms, its tenses and its everyday use. Choose the best answer for each one, then check the answer key below, where every answer is explained.

1. Complete the sentence: Él ______ una figura de barro. — “He/she models a figure in clay.”

  • a) modela
  • b) modelo
  • c) modelas
  • d) modelamos

2. Complete the sentence: Ayer, yo ______ el rostro de la estatua. — “Yesterday, I modeled the face of the statue.”

  • a) modelaste
  • b) modeló
  • c) modelaron
  • d) modelé

3. Complete the sentence: Ellos ______ con las manos en clase de arte cuando eran jóvenes. — “They used to model with my hands in art class when they were young.”

  • a) modelabas
  • b) modelábamos
  • c) modelaban
  • d) modelaba

4. Complete the sentence: Mañana, nosotros ______ la arcilla en el taller. — “Tomorrow, we will model the clay in the workshop.”

  • a) modelarán
  • b) modelaremos
  • c) modelaré
  • d) modelarás

5. Complete the sentence: Él ______ una figura de barro si pudiera. — “He would model a figure in clay if he could.”

  • a) modelaría
  • b) modelarías
  • c) modelaríamos
  • d) modelo

6. Complete the sentence: Yo ______ el rostro de la estatua. — “I have modeled the face of the statue.”

  • a) has modelado
  • b) ha modelado
  • c) han modelado
  • d) he modelado

7. Complete the sentence: Espero que tú ______ con las manos en clase de arte. — “I hope you model with my hands in art class.”

  • a) modelemos
  • b) modelo
  • c) modeles
  • d) modele

8. Which is the past participle of modelar, used with haber in the perfect tenses?

  • a) modelé
  • b) modelado
  • c) modelando
  • d) modelo

9. What does modelar mean in English?

  • a) to model
  • b) to mould, in a mould
  • c) to forge
  • d) to weld

10. Which sentence is correct?

  • a) Él modela una figura de barro.
  • b) Él modelo una figura de barro.
  • c) Nosotros modela el rostro de la estatua.
  • d) Yo modela la arcilla en el taller.

Answer key

  1. a) modela — The sentence needs the él/ella/Ud. form in the present: modela.

  2. d) modelé — The sentence needs the yo form in the preterite: modelé, for one finished action yesterday.

  3. c) modelaban — The sentence needs the ellos/ellas form in the imperfect: modelaban, for a repeated past habit.

  4. b) modelaremos — The sentence needs the nosotros form in the future: modelaremos.

  5. a) modelaría — The sentence needs the él/ella/Ud. form in the conditional: modelaría.

  6. d) he modelado — The sentence needs the yo form in the present perfect: he modelado, haber + modelado.

  7. c) modeles — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the tú present subjunctive is modeles.

  8. b) modelado — The past participle is modelado: he modelado, has modelado, ha modelado. The gerund modelando is used with estar instead.

  9. a) to model — modelar means to model. The other options are the meanings of different verbs.

  10. a) Él modela una figura de barro. — Él modela una figura de barro. is correct: the verb agrees with its subject. The other sentences mix up the person and the form.

Frequently asked questions

How do I use modelar in everyday conversation?

Start with the phrases in the examples above — especially the common combinations such as Modelo la arcilla en el taller and Modela una figura de barro. Use the present tense for habits and general facts, and the preterite for things that happened once. Say the sentences aloud until the forms feel automatic, then swap in your own details: your own town, your own family, your own routine.

What is the difference between modelar and moldear?

Modelar means “to model”, while moldear means “to mould, in a mould”. They are related words that learners often meet together, but they are not interchangeable — use modelar when you mean “to model” and moldear when you mean “to mould, in a mould”.

Which tense do I need most with modelar?

The present tense, for habits, routines and general facts — that is where you will use modelar most. The preterite comes next, for things that happened once and ended. The examples on this page use both, plus the imperfect, the future and the present perfect, so you can see the verb across the tenses you actually need.

Is modelar formal or informal?

Modelar is neutral — it is used in both formal and informal Spanish, at home, at work and at school. There is no special formal version of it; the same forms work in a conversation with a friend and in a letter to a company. What changes is the situation, not the verb.

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