Rescatar Conjugation in Spanish

The Spanish verb rescatar means to rescue, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Rescatar means to rescue, and it is used for rescuing a child from a fire, a dog from a river, documents from an archive and passengers from a boat. It is a fully regular -ar verb, and it is a close synonym of salvar. Like every Spanish verb, rescatar changes its ending for each person and tense, and this page gives you the complete picture: every tense, every person, the gerund and the past participle, all from the verified conjugation tables. For example, in the present tense you say rescato al niño del incendio, and in the preterite you say rescaté los documentos del archivo. Work through the tables below, read the notes for each tense, and then test yourself with the examples, the common mistakes and the quiz at the end of the page.

Quick facts

  • Infinitive: rescatar
  • English: to rescue
  • Verb type: regular -ar verb
  • Ending: -ar
  • Gerund: rescatando
  • Past participle: rescatado
  • Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + rescatado)

Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for rescatar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Rescatar is fully regular: rescaté, rescataba, rescataré. Rescatar a alguien de algo is to rescue them from it.

Full conjugation tables

Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for rescatar. The imperfect subjunctive is shown in its -ra forms; the -se forms use the same stem. For reflexive verbs, the pronoun column shows the reflexive pronoun that goes before each form.

Present indicative

Person Form
yo rescato
tú rescatas
él/ella/Ud. rescata
nosotros/as rescatamos
vosotros/as rescatáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. rescatan

Preterite

Person Form
yo rescaté
tú rescataste
él/ella/Ud. rescató
nosotros/as rescatamos
vosotros/as rescatasteis
ellos/ellas/Uds. rescataron

Imperfect

Person Form
yo rescataba
tú rescatabas
él/ella/Ud. rescataba
nosotros/as rescatábamos
vosotros/as rescatabais
ellos/ellas/Uds. rescataban

Future

Person Form
yo rescataré
tú rescatarás
él/ella/Ud. rescatará
nosotros/as rescataremos
vosotros/as rescataréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. rescatarán

Conditional

Person Form
yo rescataría
tú rescatarías
él/ella/Ud. rescataría
nosotros/as rescataríamos
vosotros/as rescataríais
ellos/ellas/Uds. rescatarían

Present perfect

Person Form
yo he rescatado
tú has rescatado
él/ella/Ud. ha rescatado
nosotros/as hemos rescatado
vosotros/as habéis rescatado
ellos/ellas/Uds. han rescatado

Pluperfect

Person Form
yo había rescatado
tú habías rescatado
él/ella/Ud. había rescatado
nosotros/as habíamos rescatado
vosotros/as habíais rescatado
ellos/ellas/Uds. habían rescatado

Future perfect

Person Form
yo habré rescatado
tú habrás rescatado
él/ella/Ud. habrá rescatado
nosotros/as habremos rescatado
vosotros/as habréis rescatado
ellos/ellas/Uds. habrán rescatado

Conditional perfect

Person Form
yo habría rescatado
tú habrías rescatado
él/ella/Ud. habría rescatado
nosotros/as habríamos rescatado
vosotros/as habríais rescatado
ellos/ellas/Uds. habrían rescatado

Present subjunctive

Person Form
yo rescate
tú rescates
él/ella/Ud. rescate
nosotros/as rescatemos
vosotros/as rescatéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. rescaten

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Person Form
yo rescatara
tú rescataras
él/ella/Ud. rescatara
nosotros/as rescatáramos
vosotros/as rescatarais
ellos/ellas/Uds. rescataran

Imperative (affirmative)

Person Form
tú rescata
él/ella/Ud. rescate
nosotros/as rescatemos
vosotros/as rescatad
ellos/ellas/Uds. rescaten

Imperative (negative)

Person Form
tú rescates
él/ella/Ud. rescate
nosotros/as rescatemos
vosotros/as rescatéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. rescaten

Gerund and past participle

Form Spanish Use
Gerund rescatando with estar for the progressive: estoy rescatando
Past participle rescatado with haber for the perfect tenses: he rescatado

How to use each tense

Present indicative

Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For rescatar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Rescato al niño del incendio. Learn the present forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Preterite

Use the preterite for finished actions with a clear end, often with ayer, el año pasado or anoche. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For rescatar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, rescaté al perro del río. Learn the preterite forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Imperfect

Use the imperfect for background, habits and actions in progress in the past, often with de niño, antes or mientras. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For rescatar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, rescataba los documentos del archivo. Learn the imperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Future

Use the future for plans, predictions and promises, often with mañana, el año que viene or pronto. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For rescatar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, rescataré a los pasajeros del barco. Learn the future forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Conditional

Use the conditional for polite requests, hypotheticals and what would happen, often with si clauses. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For rescatar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Rescataría al niño del incendio si pudiera. Learn the conditional forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Present perfect

Use the present perfect for recent actions and experiences, often with hoy, esta semana or ya. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For rescatar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he rescatado al perro del río. Learn the present perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Pluperfect

Use the pluperfect when one past action happened before another past action. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For rescatar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había rescatado los documentos del archivo antes de salir. Learn the pluperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Future perfect

Use the future perfect for something that will already be finished by a future time. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For rescatar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré rescatado a los pasajeros del barco. Learn the future perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Conditional perfect

Use the conditional perfect for what would have happened under different conditions. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For rescatar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría rescatado al niño del incendio con más tiempo. Learn the conditional perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Present subjunctive

Use the present subjunctive after expressions of wish, doubt, emotion and hope, such as espero que or quiero que. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For rescatar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él rescate al perro del río. Learn the present subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Use the imperfect subjunctive after past wishes and in si clauses about the past, and note the -ra forms shown here; the -se forms use the same stem. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For rescatar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él rescatara los documentos del archivo, todo cambiaría. Learn the imperfect subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Imperative (affirmative)

Use the affirmative imperative for direct commands, instructions and invitations. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For rescatar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Rescata a los pasajeros del barco! Learn the affirmative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Imperative (negative)

Use the negative imperative, always with no, to tell someone not to do something. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For rescatar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No rescates al niño del incendio. Learn the negative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Example sentences

Ten natural sentences with rescatar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.

  1. Rescato al niño del incendio. — I rescue the child from the fire.
  2. Rescata al perro del río. — He/she rescues the dog from the river.
  3. Ayer, rescaté los documentos del archivo. — Yesterday, I rescued the documents from the archive.
  4. Antes, nosotros rescatábamos a los pasajeros del barco. — Before, we used to rescue the passengers from the boat.
  5. Mañana, tú rescatarás al niño del incendio. — Tomorrow, you will rescue the child from the fire.
  6. Yo rescataría al perro del río si tuviera más tiempo. — I would rescue the dog from the river if I had more time.
  7. Él ha rescatado los documentos del archivo. — He has rescued the documents from the archive.
  8. Espero que él rescate a los pasajeros del barco. — I hope he rescues the passengers from the boat.
  9. Yo ya había rescatado al niño del incendio antes de salir. — I had already rescued the child from the fire before leaving.
  10. Ellos rescataban al perro del río cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to rescue the dog from the river when they were young.

Common mistakes

  1. Wrong: Yo rescata al niño del incendio. — Right: Yo rescato al niño del incendio. — The person matters: rescata is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is rescato. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
  2. Wrong: Vosotros rescatais al perro del río. — Right: Vosotros rescatáis al perro del río. — The vosotros present form carries a written accent: rescatáis, not rescatais. The accent marks the stressed vowel.
  3. Wrong: Treating rescatar and salvar as identical in every context. — Right: Rescatar means to rescue, while salvar means to save, the close verb. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: rescatar fits sentences such as Rescato al niño del incendio, while salvar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
  4. Wrong: Yo soy rescatado al perro del río. — Right: Yo he rescatado al perro del río. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he rescatado, has rescatado, ha rescatado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
  5. Wrong: De niño, yo rescaté los documentos del archivo todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo rescataba los documentos del archivo todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (rescataba), not the preterite. The preterite (rescaté) is for one finished action.

Quiz: test yourself

Ten questions on rescatar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.

  1. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ al niño del incendio. (present tense) A. rescato B. rescatas C. rescata D. rescatamos

  2. Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ al perro del río. (preterite) A. rescaté B. rescataste C. rescataron D. rescató

  3. Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ los documentos del archivo. (imperfect) A. rescatabas B. rescataban C. rescatábamos D. rescataba

  4. Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ a los pasajeros del barco. (future) A. rescataremos B. rescatarás C. rescataré D. rescatará

  5. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ al niño del incendio si pudiera. (conditional) A. rescataría B. rescatarías C. rescatarían D. rescato

  6. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ al perro del río. (present subjunctive) A. rescates B. rescatemos C. rescato D. rescate

  7. Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ los documentos del archivo, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. rescatáramos B. rescato C. rescatara D. rescataras

  8. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ a los pasajeros del barco. (present perfect) A. han rescatado B. hemos rescatado C. he rescatado D. has rescatado

  9. Complete the command: ¡___ al niño del incendio! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. rescata B. rescate C. rescatemos D. rescatad

  10. Which is the gerund of rescatar, used with estar for the progressive? A. rescatado B. rescato C. rescaté D. rescatando

Answer key

  1. rescato — The first-person present of rescatar is rescato. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
  2. rescató — The third-person preterite of rescatar is rescató, the form for a single finished action in the past.
  3. rescatábamos — The nosotros imperfect of rescatar is rescatábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
  4. rescatarás — The second-person future of rescatar is rescatarás.
  5. rescataría — The first-person conditional of rescatar is rescataría, the form for what would happen.
  6. rescate — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of rescatar is rescate.
  7. rescatara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of rescatar is rescatara.
  8. hemos rescatado — The nosotros present perfect of rescatar is hemos rescatado: hemos + rescatado.
  9. rescata — The affirmative tú imperative of rescatar is rescata.
  10. rescatando — The gerund of rescatar is rescatando: estoy rescatando. The participle rescatado is used with haber instead.

Frequently asked questions

What does rescatar mean in English?

Rescatar means to rescue. It is used in everyday situations such as Rescato al niño del incendio. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.

Is rescatar regular or irregular?

Rescatar is a fully regular -ar verb, so every tense follows the standard endings for its class. Once you know the regular pattern, you can produce every form on this page, including rescato in the present and rescaté in the preterite.

What is the difference between rescatar and salvar?

Rescatar means to rescue, while salvar means to save, the close verb. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use rescatar when you mean to rescue, as in Rescato al niño del incendio, and use salvar for to save, the close verb. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.

How do I say “I rescue” in the past?

It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo rescaté al perro del río. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo rescataba los documentos del archivo. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he rescatado al perro del río.

How do I practise rescatar?

Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the rescatar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.

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