Rebelarse Examples, Sentences and Quiz in Spanish

Introduction

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

Everyday use

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

  1. Yo me rebelo contra la norma — "I rebel against the rule"
  2. En su adolescencia, él se rebela — "In his teens, he rebels"
  3. Yo me rebelé contra la injusticia — "I rebeled against injustice"
  4. Yo me rebelaba contra la norma — "I used to rebel against the rule"
  5. En su adolescencia, yo me rebelaré — "In his teens, I will rebel"
  6. Yo me he rebelado contra la injusticia — "I have rebeled against injustice"

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 se rebeló contra la injusticia — "He rebeled against injustice"
  2. Él se rebelaba contra la norma — "He used to rebel against the rule"
  3. En su adolescencia, tú te rebelarás — "In his teens, you will rebel"
  4. Yo me rebelaría contra la injusticia — "I would rebel against injustice"
  5. Yo me había rebelado contra la norma — "I had rebeled against the rule"
  6. En su adolescencia, nosotros nos rebelamos — "In his teens, we rebel"

Rebelarse in conversation

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

Dialogue 1

  • ¿Tú te rebelas contra la norma? — "Do you rebel against the rule?"
  • Sí, yo me rebelo contra la norma cada día. — "Yes, I rebel against the rule every day."
  • ¿Y ayer? ¿En su adolescencia, tú te rebelaste? — "And yesterday? Did you rebel in his teens?"
  • Sí, en su adolescencia, yo me rebelé. — "Yes, In his teens, I rebeled."
  • Mañana, yo me rebelaré contra la injusticia también. — "Tomorrow, I will rebel against injustice too."

Dialogue 2

  • ¿Vosotros os rebeláis contra la norma? — "Do you rebel against the rule?"
  • Sí, nosotros nos rebelamos contra la norma los fines de semana. — "Yes, We rebel against the rule at the weekends."
  • ¿Y ellos? ¿En su adolescencia, ellos se rebelan? — "And them? Do they rebel in his teens?"
  • Sí, en su adolescencia, ellos se rebelan también. — "Yes, In his teens, they rebel too."
  • Mañana en su adolescencia, nosotros nos rebelaremos otra vez. — "Tomorrow in his teens, we will rebel again."

Useful phrases with rebelarse

Four patterns you can use with rebelarse in any conversation. The reflexive pronoun attaches to the end of the infinitive: rebelarme. Only the first verb changes.

  • Voy a rebelarme contra la norma. — "I am going to rebel against the rule."
  • Quiero rebelarme en su adolescencia. — "I want to rebel in his teens."
  • Me gusta rebelarme contra la injusticia. — "I like to rebel against injustice."
  • Acabo de rebelarme contra la norma. — "I have just rebeled against the rule."

Common mistakes with rebelarse in everyday use

Mistake 1

  • Wrong: Yo rebelo contra la norma.
  • Right: Yo me rebelo contra la norma.
  • Why: Rebelarse is reflexive: the pronoun me is required. Without it, rebelo means something else, or nothing at all.

Mistake 2

  • Wrong: Todos los días, yo me rebelé.
  • Right: Todos los días, yo me rebelo.
  • 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 rebelado en su adolescencia.
  • Right: Yo me he rebelado en su adolescencia.
  • Why: Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he rebelado, has rebelado, ha rebelado.

Mistake 4

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

Mistake 5

  • Wrong: Espero que él rebela contra la norma.
  • Right: Espero que él se rebele contra la norma.
  • Why: After espero que, Spanish needs the present subjunctive: rebele. The indicative form would be wrong here.

Quiz: rebelarse in use

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

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

  • (a) ha rebelado
  • (b) había rebelado
  • (c) rebelo
  • (d) rebelaste

Answer: (c) rebelo. The I form in the present is rebelo.

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

  • (a) habríamos rebelado
  • (b) rebela
  • (c) habrán rebelado
  • (d) hemos rebelado

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

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

  • (a) habremos rebelado
  • (b) rebeló
  • (c) rebelaré
  • (d) habrá rebelado

Answer: (b) rebeló. The he / she form in the preterite is rebeló.

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

  • (a) habrás rebelado
  • (b) rebele
  • (c) rebelaba
  • (d) rebelad

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

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

  • (a) rebeláis
  • (b) rebelara
  • (c) rebelaré
  • (d) habréis rebelado

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

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

  • (a) rebelabais
  • (b) rebelaba
  • (c) rebelaran
  • (d) he rebelado

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

7. Complete the sentence: Espero que él se ___ contra la norma.

  • (a) rebeles
  • (b) rebele
  • (c) rebeléis
  • (d) rebelen

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

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

  • (a) rebeléis
  • (b) rebelemos
  • (c) rebelaríamos
  • (d) rebelamos

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

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

  • (a) rebelé
  • (b) rebelaban
  • (c) habrán rebelado
  • (d) habréis rebelado

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

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

  • (a) rebelaremos
  • (b) rebelan
  • (c) rebelaron
  • (d) rebelaríamos

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

Frequently asked questions about rebelarse

Is rebelarse reflexive?

Yes. The pronouns me, te, se, nos, os, se go with the verb in every tense: me rebelo, te rebelas, se rebela. The tables show the verb forms; add the pronoun in front.

What is the past participle of rebelarse?

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

How do I say “I rebel” in the past?

For one finished action, use the preterite: En su adolescencia, yo me rebelé. For a habit in the past, use the imperfect: Yo me rebelaba contra la injusticia.

How can I practise rebelarse?

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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