Salvar Examples, Sentences and Quiz in Spanish

Introduction

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

Everyday use

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

  1. Yo salvo a su amigo — "I save his friend"
  2. Él salva el partido — "He saves the match"
  3. Yo salvé mucho dinero — "I saved a lot of money"
  4. Yo salvaba a su amigo — "I used to save his friend"
  5. Yo salvaré el partido — "I will save the match"
  6. Yo he salvado mucho dinero — "I have saved a lot of money"

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 salvó mucho dinero — "He saved a lot of money"
  2. Él salvaba a su amigo — "He used to save his friend"
  3. Tú salvarás el partido — "You will save the match"
  4. Yo salvaría mucho dinero — "I would save a lot of money"
  5. Yo había salvado a su amigo — "I had saved his friend"
  6. Nosotros salvamos el partido — "We save the match"

Salvar in conversation

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

Dialogue 1

  • ¿Tú salvas a su amigo? — "Do you save his friend?"
  • Sí, yo salvo a su amigo cada día. — "Yes, I save his friend every day."
  • ¿Y ayer? ¿Tú salvaste el partido? — "And yesterday? Did you save the match?"
  • Sí, yo salvé el partido. — "Yes, I saved the match."
  • Mañana, yo salvaré mucho dinero también. — "Tomorrow, I will save a lot of money too."

Dialogue 2

  • ¿Vosotros salváis a su amigo? — "Do you save his friend?"
  • Sí, nosotros salvamos a su amigo los fines de semana. — "Yes, We save his friend at the weekends."
  • ¿Y ellos? ¿Ellos salvan el partido? — "And them? Do they save the match?"
  • Sí, ellos salvan el partido también. — "Yes, They save the match too."
  • Mañana nosotros salvaremos el partido otra vez. — "Tomorrow we will save the match again."

Useful phrases with salvar

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

  • Voy a salvar a su amigo. — "I am going to save his friend."
  • Quiero salvar el partido. — "I want to save the match."
  • Me gusta salvar mucho dinero. — "I like to save a lot of money."
  • Acabo de salvar a su amigo. — "I have just saved his friend."

Common mistakes with salvar in everyday use

Mistake 1

  • Wrong: Ellos salva a su amigo.
  • Right: Ellos salvan a su amigo.
  • Why: Ellos needs the ellos form salvan. The singular salva belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

Mistake 2

  • Wrong: Todos los días, yo salvé.
  • Right: Todos los días, yo salvo.
  • 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: Salvar es lo mismo que salvarse.
  • Right: Salvar means to save; salvarse means to save oneself, to survive.
  • Why: Salvar and salvarse describe different things. They appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable.

Mistake 4

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

Mistake 5

  • Wrong: Espero que él salva a su amigo.
  • Right: Espero que él salve a su amigo.
  • Why: After espero que, Spanish needs the present subjunctive: salve. The indicative form would be wrong here.

Quiz: salvar in use

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

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

  • (a) salvamos
  • (b) ha salvado
  • (c) salvo
  • (d) salvaremos

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

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

  • (a) habías salvado
  • (b) salva
  • (c) salven
  • (d) salváramos

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

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

  • (a) habrá salvado
  • (b) salvamos
  • (c) salvó
  • (d) salvaremos

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

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

  • (a) salvabas
  • (b) salvaras
  • (c) salvaba
  • (d) habrían salvado

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

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

  • (a) salvaríais
  • (b) salvó
  • (c) salvaré
  • (d) salvé

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

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

  • (a) habré salvado
  • (b) has salvado
  • (c) habían salvado
  • (d) he salvado

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

7. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ a su amigo.

  • (a) salvéis
  • (b) salve
  • (c) salvemos
  • (d) salves

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

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

  • (a) hemos salvado
  • (b) salvemos
  • (c) salvaras
  • (d) salvamos

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

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

  • (a) salvarían
  • (b) salvé
  • (c) salvaron
  • (d) salves

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

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

  • (a) habríamos salvado
  • (b) salvan
  • (c) había salvado
  • (d) habéis salvado

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

Frequently asked questions about salvar

Is salvar regular?

Yes. Salvar is a regular -ar verb: salvo, salvas, salva. See the full conjugation of salvar for every tense.

What is the difference between salvar and salvarse?

Salvar means to save. Salvarse means to save oneself, to survive. Use salvar when you mean to save, as in Yo salvo a su amigo.

How do I say “I save” in the past?

For one finished action, use the preterite: Yo salvé el partido. For a habit in the past, use the imperfect: Yo salvaba mucho dinero.

How can I practise salvar?

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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