Sacudir Examples, Sentences and Quiz in Spanish

Introduction

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

Everyday use

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

  1. Yo sacudo la alfombra — "I shake the rug"
  2. Él sacude el polvo — "He shakes the dust"
  3. Yo sacudí la manta — "I shook the blanket"
  4. Yo sacudía la alfombra — "I used to shake the rug"
  5. Yo sacudiré el polvo — "I will shake the dust"
  6. Yo he sacudido la manta — "I have shaken the blanket"

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 sacudió la manta — "He shook the blanket"
  2. Él sacudía la alfombra — "He used to shake the rug"
  3. Tú sacudirás el polvo — "You will shake the dust"
  4. Yo sacudiría la manta — "I would shake the blanket"
  5. Yo había sacudido la alfombra — "I had shaken the rug"
  6. Nosotros sacudimos el polvo — "We shake the dust"

Sacudir in conversation

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

Dialogue 1

  • ¿Tú sacudes la alfombra? — "Do you shake the rug?"
  • Sí, yo sacudo la alfombra cada día. — "Yes, I shake the rug every day."
  • ¿Y ayer? ¿Tú sacudiste el polvo? — "And yesterday? Did you shake the dust?"
  • Sí, yo sacudí el polvo. — "Yes, I shook the dust."
  • Mañana, yo sacudiré la manta también. — "Tomorrow, I will shake the blanket too."

Dialogue 2

  • ¿Vosotros sacudís la alfombra? — "Do you shake the rug?"
  • Sí, nosotros sacudimos la alfombra los fines de semana. — "Yes, We shake the rug at the weekends."
  • ¿Y ellos? ¿Ellos sacuden el polvo? — "And them? Do they shake the dust?"
  • Sí, ellos sacuden el polvo también. — "Yes, They shake the dust too."
  • Mañana nosotros sacudiremos el polvo otra vez. — "Tomorrow we will shake the dust again."

Useful phrases with sacudir

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

  • Voy a sacudir la alfombra. — "I am going to shake the rug."
  • Quiero sacudir el polvo. — "I want to shake the dust."
  • Me gusta sacudir la manta. — "I like to shake the blanket."
  • Acabo de sacudir la alfombra. — "I have just shaken the rug."

Common mistakes with sacudir in everyday use

Mistake 1

  • Wrong: Ellos sacude la alfombra.
  • Right: Ellos sacuden la alfombra.
  • Why: Ellos needs the ellos form sacuden. The singular sacude belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

Mistake 2

  • Wrong: Todos los días, yo sacudí.
  • Right: Todos los días, yo sacudo.
  • 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 sacudido el polvo.
  • Right: Yo he sacudido el polvo.
  • Why: Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he sacudido, has sacudido, ha sacudido.

Mistake 4

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

Mistake 5

  • Wrong: Espero que él sacude la alfombra.
  • Right: Espero que él sacuda la alfombra.
  • Why: After espero que, Spanish needs the present subjunctive: sacuda. The indicative form would be wrong here.

Quiz: sacudir in use

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

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

  • (a) habríamos sacudido
  • (b) sacudía
  • (c) sacudo
  • (d) hemos sacudido

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

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

  • (a) sacudiste
  • (b) habrás sacudido
  • (c) sacude
  • (d) sacudirías

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

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

  • (a) habremos sacudido
  • (b) sacudió
  • (c) habrá sacudido
  • (d) sacudamos

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

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

  • (a) sacudía
  • (b) hemos sacudido
  • (c) sacudiremos
  • (d) habríais sacudido

Answer: (a) sacudía. The I form in the imperfect is sacudía.

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

  • (a) habré sacudido
  • (b) han sacudido
  • (c) sacudiré
  • (d) habríamos sacudido

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

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

  • (a) sacudisteis
  • (b) sacudieron
  • (c) he sacudido
  • (d) sacudirían

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

7. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ la alfombra.

  • (a) sacudan
  • (b) sacudas
  • (c) sacudamos
  • (d) sacuda

Answer: (d) sacuda. The he / she form in the present subjunctive is sacuda.

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

  • (a) sacudisteis
  • (b) sacudimos
  • (c) habríais sacudido
  • (d) sacudirán

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

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

  • (a) sacudí
  • (b) habré sacudido
  • (c) habremos sacudido
  • (d) he sacudido

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

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

  • (a) sacuden
  • (b) sacudirían
  • (c) sacudierais
  • (d) habríais sacudido

Answer: (a) sacuden. The they form in the present is sacuden.

Frequently asked questions about sacudir

Is sacudir regular?

Yes. Sacudir is a regular -ir verb: sacudo, sacudes, sacude. See the full conjugation of sacudir for every tense.

What is the past participle of sacudir?

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

How do I say “I shake” in the past?

For one finished action, use the preterite: Yo sacudí el polvo. For a habit in the past, use the imperfect: Yo sacudía la manta.

How can I practise sacudir?

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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