Planear Examples, Sentences and Quiz in Spanish

Introduction

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

Everyday use

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

  1. Yo planeo un viaje — "I plan a trip"
  2. Él planea las vacaciones — "He plans the holidays"
  3. Yo planeé el futuro — "I planed the future"
  4. Yo planeaba un viaje — "I used to plan a trip"
  5. Yo planearé las vacaciones — "I will plan the holidays"
  6. Yo he planeado el futuro — "I have planed the future"

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 planeó el futuro — "He planed the future"
  2. Él planeaba un viaje — "He used to plan a trip"
  3. Tú planearás las vacaciones — "You will plan the holidays"
  4. Yo planearía el futuro — "I would plan the future"
  5. Yo había planeado un viaje — "I had planed a trip"
  6. Nosotros planeamos las vacaciones — "We plan the holidays"

Planear in conversation

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

Dialogue 1

  • ¿Tú planeas un viaje? — "Do you plan a trip?"
  • Sí, yo planeo un viaje cada día. — "Yes, I plan a trip every day."
  • ¿Y ayer? ¿Tú planeaste las vacaciones? — "And yesterday? Did you plan the holidays?"
  • Sí, yo planeé las vacaciones. — "Yes, I planed the holidays."
  • Mañana, yo planearé el futuro también. — "Tomorrow, I will plan the future too."

Dialogue 2

  • ¿Vosotros planeáis un viaje? — "Do you plan a trip?"
  • Sí, nosotros planeamos un viaje los fines de semana. — "Yes, We plan a trip at the weekends."
  • ¿Y ellos? ¿Ellos planean las vacaciones? — "And them? Do they plan the holidays?"
  • Sí, ellos planean las vacaciones también. — "Yes, They plan the holidays too."
  • Mañana nosotros planearemos las vacaciones otra vez. — "Tomorrow we will plan the holidays again."

Useful phrases with planear

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

  • Voy a planear un viaje. — "I am going to plan a trip."
  • Quiero planear las vacaciones. — "I want to plan the holidays."
  • Me gusta planear el futuro. — "I like to plan the future."
  • Acabo de planear un viaje. — "I have just planed a trip."

Common mistakes with planear in everyday use

Mistake 1

  • Wrong: Ellos planea un viaje.
  • Right: Ellos planean un viaje.
  • Why: Ellos needs the ellos form planean. The singular planea belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

Mistake 2

  • Wrong: Todos los días, yo planeé.
  • Right: Todos los días, yo planeo.
  • 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: Planear es lo mismo que planificar.
  • Right: Planear means to plan; planificar means to plan.
  • Why: Planear and planificar describe different things. They appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable.

Mistake 4

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

Mistake 5

  • Wrong: Espero que él planea un viaje.
  • Right: Espero que él planee un viaje.
  • Why: After espero que, Spanish needs the present subjunctive: planee. The indicative form would be wrong here.

Quiz: planear in use

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

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

  • (a) habré planeado
  • (b) planearíamos
  • (c) planeaba
  • (d) planeo

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

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

  • (a) planea
  • (b) habrías planeado
  • (c) habíamos planeado
  • (d) han planeado

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

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

  • (a) planeó
  • (b) planean
  • (c) planearíamos
  • (d) hemos planeado

Answer: (a) planeó. The he / she form in the preterite is planeó.

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

  • (a) planearía
  • (b) planeaba
  • (c) planearais
  • (d) habíais planeado

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

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

  • (a) planearé
  • (b) habrán planeado
  • (c) habrían planeado
  • (d) planearéis

Answer: (a) planearé. The I form in the future is planearé.

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

  • (a) habían planeado
  • (b) planeabas
  • (c) habréis planeado
  • (d) he planeado

Answer: (d) he planeado. The I form in the present perfect is he planeado.

7. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ un viaje.

  • (a) planee
  • (b) planeemos
  • (c) planeen
  • (d) planeéis

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

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

  • (a) habremos planeado
  • (b) planeó
  • (c) planearas
  • (d) planeamos

Answer: (d) planeamos. The we form in the present is planeamos.

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

  • (a) planeé
  • (b) planead
  • (c) planearon
  • (d) planee

Answer: (a) planeé. The I form in the preterite is planeé.

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

  • (a) planearais
  • (b) planean
  • (c) planearé
  • (d) habéis planeado

Answer: (b) planean. The they form in the present is planean.

Frequently asked questions about planear

Is planear regular?

Yes. Planear is a regular -ar verb: planeo, planeas, planea. See the full conjugation of planear for every tense.

What is the difference between planear and planificar?

Planear means to plan. Planificar means to plan. Use planear when you mean to plan, as in Yo planeo un viaje.

How do I say “I plan” in the past?

For one finished action, use the preterite: Yo planeé las vacaciones. For a habit in the past, use the imperfect: Yo planeaba el futuro.

How can I practise planear?

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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