Plantar Examples, Sentences and Quiz in Spanish

Introduction

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

Everyday use

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

  1. Yo planto un árbol — "I plant a tree"
  2. Él planta flores en el jardín — "He plants flowers in the garden"
  3. Yo planté tomates en primavera — "I planted tomatoes in spring"
  4. Yo plantaba un árbol — "I used to plant a tree"
  5. Yo plantaré flores en el jardín — "I will plant flowers in the garden"
  6. Yo he plantado tomates en primavera — "I have planted tomatoes in spring"

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 plantó tomates en primavera — "He planted tomatoes in spring"
  2. Él plantaba un árbol — "He used to plant a tree"
  3. Tú plantarás flores en el jardín — "You will plant flowers in the garden"
  4. Yo plantaría tomates en primavera — "I would plant tomatoes in spring"
  5. Yo había plantado un árbol — "I had planted a tree"
  6. Nosotros plantamos flores en el jardín — "We plant flowers in the garden"

Plantar in conversation

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

Dialogue 1

  • ¿Tú plantas un árbol? — "Do you plant a tree?"
  • Sí, yo planto un árbol cada día. — "Yes, I plant a tree every day."
  • ¿Y ayer? ¿Tú plantaste flores en el jardín? — "And yesterday? Did you plant flowers in the garden?"
  • Sí, yo planté flores en el jardín. — "Yes, I planted flowers in the garden."
  • Mañana, yo plantaré tomates en primavera también. — "Tomorrow, I will plant tomatoes in spring too."

Dialogue 2

  • ¿Vosotros plantáis un árbol? — "Do you plant a tree?"
  • Sí, nosotros plantamos un árbol los fines de semana. — "Yes, We plant a tree at the weekends."
  • ¿Y ellos? ¿Ellos plantan flores en el jardín? — "And them? Do they plant flowers in the garden?"
  • Sí, ellos plantan flores en el jardín también. — "Yes, They plant flowers in the garden too."
  • Mañana nosotros plantaremos flores en el jardín otra vez. — "Tomorrow we will plant flowers in the garden again."

Useful phrases with plantar

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

  • Voy a plantar un árbol. — "I am going to plant a tree."
  • Quiero plantar flores en el jardín. — "I want to plant flowers in the garden."
  • Me gusta plantar tomates en primavera. — "I like to plant tomatoes in spring."
  • Acabo de plantar un árbol. — "I have just planted a tree."

Common mistakes with plantar in everyday use

Mistake 1

  • Wrong: Ellos planta un árbol.
  • Right: Ellos plantan un árbol.
  • Why: Ellos needs the ellos form plantan. The singular planta belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

Mistake 2

  • Wrong: Todos los días, yo planté.
  • Right: Todos los días, yo planto.
  • 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: Plantar es lo mismo que sembrar.
  • Right: Plantar means to plant; sembrar means to sow, to plant.
  • Why: Plantar and sembrar describe different things. They appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable.

Mistake 4

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

Mistake 5

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

Quiz: plantar in use

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

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

  • (a) planto
  • (b) plantarás
  • (c) plantemos
  • (d) plantaba

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

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

  • (a) planta
  • (b) plantarían
  • (c) habían plantado
  • (d) habrá plantado

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

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

  • (a) planté
  • (b) plantan
  • (c) plantó
  • (d) han plantado

Answer: (c) plantó. The he / she form in the preterite is plantó.

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

  • (a) plantó
  • (b) habremos plantado
  • (c) plantaba
  • (d) habrían plantado

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

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

  • (a) hemos plantado
  • (b) habré plantado
  • (c) plantaba
  • (d) plantaré

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

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

  • (a) habrá plantado
  • (b) hemos plantado
  • (c) he plantado
  • (d) plantarías

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

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

  • (a) plantemos
  • (b) planten
  • (c) plante
  • (d) plantes

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

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

  • (a) plantaras
  • (b) plantamos
  • (c) habrá plantado
  • (d) plantó

Answer: (b) plantamos. The we form in the present is plantamos.

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

  • (a) plantaras
  • (b) habréis plantado
  • (c) planté
  • (d) plantaba

Answer: (c) planté. The I form in the preterite is planté.

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

  • (a) habríamos plantado
  • (b) habremos plantado
  • (c) habéis plantado
  • (d) plantan

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

Frequently asked questions about plantar

Is plantar regular?

Yes. Plantar is a regular -ar verb: planto, plantas, planta. See the full conjugation of plantar for every tense.

What is the difference between plantar and sembrar?

Plantar means to plant. Sembrar means to sow, to plant. Use plantar when you mean to plant, as in Yo planto un árbol.

How do I say “I plant” in the past?

For one finished action, use the preterite: Yo planté flores en el jardín. For a habit in the past, use the imperfect: Yo plantaba tomates en primavera.

How can I practise plantar?

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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