Operar Examples, Sentences and Quiz in Spanish

Introduction

operar means "to operate on" in English, and it is a verb you will use constantly once you start speaking Spanish for real. This page shows operar 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 operar, 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 operar

Everyday use

Operar means to operate on. The sentences below show it in everyday use, in different tenses and persons.

  1. Yo opero a mi abuela — "I operate on my grandmother"
  2. El lunes, él opera — "On monday, he operates on"
  3. Yo operé en el hospital — "I operated on in the hospital"
  4. Yo operaba a mi abuela — "I used to operate on my grandmother"
  5. El lunes, yo operaré — "On monday, I will operate on"
  6. Yo he operado en el hospital — "I have operated on in the hospital"

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 operó en el hospital — "He operated on in the hospital"
  2. Él operaba a mi abuela — "He used to operate on my grandmother"
  3. El lunes, tú operarás — "On monday, you will operate on"
  4. Yo operaría en el hospital — "I would operate on in the hospital"
  5. Yo había operado a mi abuela — "I had operated on my grandmother"
  6. El lunes, nosotros operamos — "On monday, we operate on"

Operar in conversation

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

Dialogue 1

  • ¿Tú operas a mi abuela? — "Do you operate on my grandmother?"
  • Sí, yo opero a mi abuela cada día. — "Yes, I operate on my grandmother every day."
  • ¿Y ayer? ¿El lunes, tú operaste? — "And yesterday? Did you operate on on Monday?"
  • Sí, el lunes, yo operé. — "Yes, On monday, I operated on."
  • Mañana, yo operaré en el hospital también. — "Tomorrow, I will operate on in the hospital too."

Dialogue 2

  • ¿Vosotros operáis a mi abuela? — "Do you operate on my grandmother?"
  • Sí, nosotros operamos a mi abuela los fines de semana. — "Yes, We operate on my grandmother at the weekends."
  • ¿Y ellos? ¿El lunes, ellos operan? — "And them? Do they operate on on Monday?"
  • Sí, el lunes, ellos operan también. — "Yes, On monday, they operate on too."
  • Mañana el lunes, nosotros operaremos otra vez. — "Tomorrow on monday, we will operate on again."

Useful phrases with operar

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

  • Voy a operar a mi abuela. — "I am going to operate on my grandmother."
  • Quiero operar el lunes. — "I want to operate on on Monday."
  • Me gusta operar en el hospital. — "I like to operate on in the hospital."
  • Acabo de operar a mi abuela. — "I have just operated on my grandmother."

Common mistakes with operar in everyday use

Mistake 1

  • Wrong: Ellos opera a mi abuela.
  • Right: Ellos operan a mi abuela.
  • Why: Ellos needs the ellos form operan. The singular opera belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

Mistake 2

  • Wrong: Todos los días, yo operé.
  • Right: Todos los días, yo opero.
  • 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 operado el lunes.
  • Right: Yo he operado el lunes.
  • Why: Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he operado, has operado, ha operado.

Mistake 4

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

Mistake 5

  • Wrong: Espero que él opera a mi abuela.
  • Right: Espero que él opere a mi abuela.
  • Why: After espero que, Spanish needs the present subjunctive: opere. The indicative form would be wrong here.

Quiz: operar in use

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

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

  • (a) opero
  • (b) habríamos operado
  • (c) operan
  • (d) operas

Answer: (a) opero. The I form in the present is opero.

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

  • (a) opero
  • (b) habíais operado
  • (c) opera
  • (d) habríais operado

Answer: (c) opera. The he / she form in the present is opera.

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

  • (a) habíamos operado
  • (b) operé
  • (c) operen
  • (d) operó

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

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

  • (a) operarás
  • (b) operaba
  • (c) operaban
  • (d) hemos operado

Answer: (b) operaba. The I form in the imperfect is operaba.

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

  • (a) operé
  • (b) operamos
  • (c) operaré
  • (d) habías operado

Answer: (c) operaré. The I form in the future is operaré.

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

  • (a) operaríamos
  • (b) operarías
  • (c) he operado
  • (d) había operado

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

7. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ a mi abuela.

  • (a) operéis
  • (b) opere
  • (c) operemos
  • (d) operes

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

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

  • (a) operan
  • (b) operaré
  • (c) operamos
  • (d) opere

Answer: (c) operamos. The we form in the present is operamos.

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

  • (a) habías operado
  • (b) operé
  • (c) habrían operado
  • (d) operéis

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

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

  • (a) operan
  • (b) operen
  • (c) operaremos
  • (d) operé

Answer: (a) operan. The they form in the present is operan.

Frequently asked questions about operar

Is operar regular?

Yes. Operar is a regular -ar verb: opero, operas, opera. See the full conjugation of operar for every tense.

What is the past participle of operar?

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

How do I say “I operate on” in the past?

For one finished action, use the preterite: El lunes, yo operé. For a habit in the past, use the imperfect: Yo operaba en el hospital.

How can I practise operar?

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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