Resfriarse Examples, Sentences and Quiz in Spanish

Introduction

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

Everyday use

Resfriarse means to catch a cold. The sentences below show it in everyday use, in different tenses and persons.

  1. En invierno, yo me resfrío — "In winter, I catch a cold"
  2. Cada año, él se resfría — "Every year, he catches a cold"
  3. Yo me resfrié por el frío — "I caught a cold because of the cold"
  4. En invierno, yo me resfriaba — "In winter, I used to catch a cold"
  5. Cada año, yo me resfriaré — "Every year, I will catch a cold"
  6. Yo me he resfriado por el frío — "I have caught a cold because of the cold"

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 resfrió por el frío — "He caught a cold because of the cold"
  2. En invierno, él se resfriaba — "In winter, he used to catch a cold"
  3. Cada año, tú te resfriarás — "Every year, you will catch a cold"
  4. Yo me resfriaría por el frío — "I would catch a cold because of the cold"
  5. En invierno, yo me había resfriado — "In winter, I had caught a cold"
  6. Cada año, nosotros nos resfriamos — "Every year, we catch a cold"

Resfriarse in conversation

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

Dialogue 1

  • ¿En invierno, tú te resfrías? — "Do you catch a cold in winter?"
  • Sí, en invierno, yo me resfrío cada día. — "Yes, In winter, I catch a cold every day."
  • ¿Y ayer? ¿Cada año, tú te resfriaste? — "And yesterday? Did you catch a cold every year?"
  • Sí, cada año, yo me resfrié. — "Yes, Every year, I caught a cold."
  • Mañana, yo me resfriaré por el frío también. — "Tomorrow, I will catch a cold because of the cold too."

Dialogue 2

  • ¿En invierno, vosotros os resfriáis? — "Do you catch a cold in winter?"
  • Sí, en invierno, nosotros nos resfriamos los fines de semana. — "Yes, In winter, we catch a cold at the weekends."
  • ¿Y ellos? ¿Cada año, ellos se resfrían? — "And them? Do they catch a cold every year?"
  • Sí, cada año, ellos se resfrían también. — "Yes, Every year, they catch a cold too."
  • Mañana cada año, nosotros nos resfriaremos otra vez. — "Tomorrow every year, we will catch a cold again."

Useful phrases with resfriarse

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

  • Voy a resfriarme en invierno. — "I am going to catch a cold in winter."
  • Quiero resfriarme cada año. — "I want to catch a cold every year."
  • Me gusta resfriarme por el frío. — "I like to catch a cold because of the cold."
  • Acabo de resfriarme en invierno. — "I have just caught a cold in winter."

Common mistakes with resfriarse in everyday use

Mistake 1

  • Wrong: Yo resfrío en invierno.
  • Right: En invierno, yo me resfrío.
  • Why: Resfriarse is reflexive: the pronoun me is required. Without it, resfrío means something else, or nothing at all.

Mistake 2

  • Wrong: Todos los días, yo me resfrié.
  • Right: Todos los días, yo me resfrío.
  • 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 resfriado cada año.
  • Right: Yo me he resfriado cada año.
  • Why: Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he resfriado, has resfriado, ha resfriado.

Mistake 4

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

Mistake 5

  • Wrong: Espero que él resfría en invierno.
  • Right: Espero que él se resfríe en invierno.
  • Why: After espero que, Spanish needs the present subjunctive: resfríe. The indicative form would be wrong here.

Quiz: resfriarse in use

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

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

  • (a) resfrío
  • (b) habrán resfriado
  • (c) resfriaron
  • (d) han resfriado

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

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

  • (a) habéis resfriado
  • (b) resfríes
  • (c) resfría
  • (d) habréis resfriado

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

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

  • (a) resfríe
  • (b) resfriaban
  • (c) resfrió
  • (d) hemos resfriado

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

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

  • (a) has resfriado
  • (b) resfrió
  • (c) habríais resfriado
  • (d) resfriaba

Answer: (d) resfriaba. The I form in the imperfect is resfriaba.

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

  • (a) resfriaste
  • (b) resfrían
  • (c) resfriaré
  • (d) resfríen

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

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

  • (a) habías resfriado
  • (b) he resfriado
  • (c) resfriáis
  • (d) resfría

Answer: (b) he resfriado. The I form in the present perfect is he resfriado.

7. Complete the sentence: Espero que él se ___ por el frío.

  • (a) resfríe
  • (b) resfríes
  • (c) resfríen
  • (d) resfriéis

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

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

  • (a) resfriarais
  • (b) he resfriado
  • (c) resfriamos
  • (d) habrá resfriado

Answer: (c) resfriamos. The we form in the present is resfriamos.

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

  • (a) resfriarían
  • (b) resfrié
  • (c) habría resfriado
  • (d) resfriaba

Answer: (b) resfrié. The I form in the preterite is resfrié.

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

  • (a) resfríes
  • (b) resfriaría
  • (c) resfrían
  • (d) resfriaste

Answer: (c) resfrían. The they form in the present is resfrían.

Frequently asked questions about resfriarse

Is resfriarse reflexive?

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

What is the past participle of resfriarse?

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

How do I say “I catch a cold” in the past?

For one finished action, use the preterite: Cada año, yo me resfrié. For a habit in the past, use the imperfect: Yo me resfriaba por el frío.

How can I practise resfriarse?

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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