Recetar Examples, Sentences and Quiz in Spanish

Introduction

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

Everyday use

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

  1. Yo receto un jarabe — "I prescribe a syrup"
  2. Él receta antibióticos — "He prescribes antibiotics"
  3. Yo receté pastillas para el dolor — "I prescribed pills for the pain"
  4. Yo recetaba un jarabe — "I used to prescribe a syrup"
  5. Yo recetaré antibióticos — "I will prescribe antibiotics"
  6. Yo he recetado pastillas para el dolor — "I have prescribed pills for the pain"

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 recetó pastillas para el dolor — "He prescribed pills for the pain"
  2. Él recetaba un jarabe — "He used to prescribe a syrup"
  3. Tú recetarás antibióticos — "You will prescribe antibiotics"
  4. Yo recetaría pastillas para el dolor — "I would prescribe pills for the pain"
  5. Yo había recetado un jarabe — "I had prescribed a syrup"
  6. Nosotros recetamos antibióticos — "We prescribe antibiotics"

Recetar in conversation

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

Dialogue 1

  • ¿Tú recetas un jarabe? — "Do you prescribe a syrup?"
  • Sí, yo receto un jarabe cada día. — "Yes, I prescribe a syrup every day."
  • ¿Y ayer? ¿Tú recetaste antibióticos? — "And yesterday? Did you prescribe antibiotics?"
  • Sí, yo receté antibióticos. — "Yes, I prescribed antibiotics."
  • Mañana, yo recetaré pastillas para el dolor también. — "Tomorrow, I will prescribe pills for the pain too."

Dialogue 2

  • ¿Vosotros recetáis un jarabe? — "Do you prescribe a syrup?"
  • Sí, nosotros recetamos un jarabe los fines de semana. — "Yes, We prescribe a syrup at the weekends."
  • ¿Y ellos? ¿Ellos recetan antibióticos? — "And them? Do they prescribe antibiotics?"
  • Sí, ellos recetan antibióticos también. — "Yes, They prescribe antibiotics too."
  • Mañana nosotros recetaremos antibióticos otra vez. — "Tomorrow we will prescribe antibiotics again."

Useful phrases with recetar

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

  • Voy a recetar un jarabe. — "I am going to prescribe a syrup."
  • Quiero recetar antibióticos. — "I want to prescribe antibiotics."
  • Me gusta recetar pastillas para el dolor. — "I like to prescribe pills for the pain."
  • Acabo de recetar un jarabe. — "I have just prescribed a syrup."

Common mistakes with recetar in everyday use

Mistake 1

  • Wrong: Ellos receta un jarabe.
  • Right: Ellos recetan un jarabe.
  • Why: Ellos needs the ellos form recetan. The singular receta belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

Mistake 2

  • Wrong: Todos los días, yo receté.
  • Right: Todos los días, yo receto.
  • 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 recetado antibióticos.
  • Right: Yo he recetado antibióticos.
  • Why: Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he recetado, has recetado, ha recetado.

Mistake 4

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

Mistake 5

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

Quiz: recetar in use

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

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

  • (a) ha recetado
  • (b) habíamos recetado
  • (c) habréis recetado
  • (d) receto

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

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

  • (a) recetes
  • (b) ha recetado
  • (c) receta
  • (d) recetas

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

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

  • (a) recetó
  • (b) recetarían
  • (c) recetabas
  • (d) recetasteis

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

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

  • (a) habrá recetado
  • (b) recetaba
  • (c) recetarán
  • (d) habían recetado

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

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

  • (a) recetaré
  • (b) habrá recetado
  • (c) recetarías
  • (d) recetemos

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

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

  • (a) recetáramos
  • (b) habéis recetado
  • (c) recetaran
  • (d) he recetado

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

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

  • (a) receten
  • (b) recetéis
  • (c) recete
  • (d) recetes

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

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

  • (a) recetas
  • (b) recetamos
  • (c) recetaran
  • (d) recetarás

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

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

  • (a) habrías recetado
  • (b) habremos recetado
  • (c) habíamos recetado
  • (d) receté

Answer: (d) receté. The I form in the preterite is receté.

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

  • (a) recetaron
  • (b) recetan
  • (c) habrá recetado
  • (d) recetaréis

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

Frequently asked questions about recetar

Is recetar regular?

Yes. Recetar is a regular -ar verb: receto, recetas, receta. See the full conjugation of recetar for every tense.

What is the past participle of recetar?

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

How do I say “I prescribe” in the past?

For one finished action, use the preterite: Yo receté antibióticos. For a habit in the past, use the imperfect: Yo recetaba pastillas para el dolor.

How can I practise recetar?

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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