Separar Examples, Sentences and Quiz in Spanish

Introduction

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

Everyday use

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

  1. Yo separo la ropa blanca — "I separate the white clothes"
  2. Él separa los libros — "He separates the books"
  3. Yo separé a los niños — "I separated the children"
  4. Yo separaba la ropa blanca — "I used to separate the white clothes"
  5. Yo separaré los libros — "I will separate the books"
  6. Yo he separado a los niños — "I have separated the children"

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 separó a los niños — "He separated the children"
  2. Él separaba la ropa blanca — "He used to separate the white clothes"
  3. Tú separarás los libros — "You will separate the books"
  4. Yo separaría a los niños — "I would separate the children"
  5. Yo había separado la ropa blanca — "I had separated the white clothes"
  6. Nosotros separamos los libros — "We separate the books"

Separar in conversation

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

Dialogue 1

  • ¿Tú separas la ropa blanca? — "Do you separate the white clothes?"
  • Sí, yo separo la ropa blanca cada día. — "Yes, I separate the white clothes every day."
  • ¿Y ayer? ¿Tú separaste los libros? — "And yesterday? Did you separate the books?"
  • Sí, yo separé los libros. — "Yes, I separated the books."
  • Mañana, yo separaré a los niños también. — "Tomorrow, I will separate the children too."

Dialogue 2

  • ¿Vosotros separáis la ropa blanca? — "Do you separate the white clothes?"
  • Sí, nosotros separamos la ropa blanca los fines de semana. — "Yes, We separate the white clothes at the weekends."
  • ¿Y ellos? ¿Ellos separan los libros? — "And them? Do they separate the books?"
  • Sí, ellos separan los libros también. — "Yes, They separate the books too."
  • Mañana nosotros separaremos los libros otra vez. — "Tomorrow we will separate the books again."

Useful phrases with separar

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

  • Voy a separar la ropa blanca. — "I am going to separate the white clothes."
  • Quiero separar los libros. — "I want to separate the books."
  • Me gusta separar a los niños. — "I like to separate the children."
  • Acabo de separar la ropa blanca. — "I have just separated the white clothes."

Common mistakes with separar in everyday use

Mistake 1

  • Wrong: Ellos separa la ropa blanca.
  • Right: Ellos separan la ropa blanca.
  • Why: Ellos needs the ellos form separan. The singular separa belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

Mistake 2

  • Wrong: Todos los días, yo separé.
  • Right: Todos los días, yo separo.
  • 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 separado los libros.
  • Right: Yo he separado los libros.
  • Why: Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he separado, has separado, ha separado.

Mistake 4

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

Mistake 5

  • Wrong: Espero que él separa la ropa blanca.
  • Right: Espero que él separe la ropa blanca.
  • Why: After espero que, Spanish needs the present subjunctive: separe. The indicative form would be wrong here.

Quiz: separar in use

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

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

  • (a) habréis separado
  • (b) separó
  • (c) separo
  • (d) separarais

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

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

  • (a) separarían
  • (b) separaba
  • (c) habrás separado
  • (d) separa

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

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

  • (a) has separado
  • (b) separó
  • (c) separaste
  • (d) habíais separado

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

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

  • (a) separaré
  • (b) separaste
  • (c) separáis
  • (d) separaba

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

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

  • (a) separaré
  • (b) había separado
  • (c) separaba
  • (d) separaría

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

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

  • (a) separaréis
  • (b) he separado
  • (c) habrán separado
  • (d) habría separado

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

7. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ la ropa blanca.

  • (a) separe
  • (b) separéis
  • (c) separes
  • (d) separen

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

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

  • (a) habría separado
  • (b) habrías separado
  • (c) separamos
  • (d) habremos separado

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

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

  • (a) separé
  • (b) separaré
  • (c) separas
  • (d) separa

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

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

  • (a) separáramos
  • (b) separan
  • (c) separabas
  • (d) separaban

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

Frequently asked questions about separar

Is separar regular?

Yes. Separar is a regular -ar verb: separo, separas, separa. See the full conjugation of separar for every tense.

What is the past participle of separar?

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

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

For one finished action, use the preterite: Yo separé los libros. For a habit in the past, use the imperfect: Yo separaba a los niños.

How can I practise separar?

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.

Related pages