Vacunar Examples, Sentences and Quiz in Spanish

Introduction

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

Everyday use

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

  1. Yo vacuno a los niños — "I vaccinate the children"
  2. Él vacuna contra la gripe — "He vaccinates against the flu"
  3. Yo vacuné en el centro de salud — "I vaccinated at the health centre"
  4. Yo vacunaba a los niños — "I used to vaccinate the children"
  5. Yo vacunaré contra la gripe — "I will vaccinate against the flu"
  6. Yo he vacunado en el centro de salud — "I have vaccinated at the health centre"

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 vacunó en el centro de salud — "He vaccinated at the health centre"
  2. Él vacunaba a los niños — "He used to vaccinate the children"
  3. Tú vacunarás contra la gripe — "You will vaccinate against the flu"
  4. Yo vacunaría en el centro de salud — "I would vaccinate at the health centre"
  5. Yo había vacunado a los niños — "I had vaccinated the children"
  6. Nosotros vacunamos contra la gripe — "We vaccinate against the flu"

Vacunar in conversation

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

Dialogue 1

  • ¿Tú vacunas a los niños? — "Do you vaccinate the children?"
  • Sí, yo vacuno a los niños cada día. — "Yes, I vaccinate the children every day."
  • ¿Y ayer? ¿Tú vacunaste contra la gripe? — "And yesterday? Did you vaccinate against the flu?"
  • Sí, yo vacuné contra la gripe. — "Yes, I vaccinated against the flu."
  • Mañana, yo vacunaré en el centro de salud también. — "Tomorrow, I will vaccinate at the health centre too."

Dialogue 2

  • ¿Vosotros vacunáis a los niños? — "Do you vaccinate the children?"
  • Sí, nosotros vacunamos a los niños los fines de semana. — "Yes, We vaccinate the children at the weekends."
  • ¿Y ellos? ¿Ellos vacunan contra la gripe? — "And them? Do they vaccinate against the flu?"
  • Sí, ellos vacunan contra la gripe también. — "Yes, They vaccinate against the flu too."
  • Mañana nosotros vacunaremos contra la gripe otra vez. — "Tomorrow we will vaccinate against the flu again."

Useful phrases with vacunar

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

  • Voy a vacunar a los niños. — "I am going to vaccinate the children."
  • Quiero vacunar contra la gripe. — "I want to vaccinate against the flu."
  • Me gusta vacunar en el centro de salud. — "I like to vaccinate at the health centre."
  • Acabo de vacunar a los niños. — "I have just vaccinated the children."

Common mistakes with vacunar in everyday use

Mistake 1

  • Wrong: Ellos vacuna a los niños.
  • Right: Ellos vacunan a los niños.
  • Why: Ellos needs the ellos form vacunan. The singular vacuna belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

Mistake 2

  • Wrong: Todos los días, yo vacuné.
  • Right: Todos los días, yo vacuno.
  • 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 vacunado contra la gripe.
  • Right: Yo he vacunado contra la gripe.
  • Why: Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he vacunado, has vacunado, ha vacunado.

Mistake 4

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

Mistake 5

  • Wrong: Espero que él vacuna a los niños.
  • Right: Espero que él vacune a los niños.
  • Why: After espero que, Spanish needs the present subjunctive: vacune. The indicative form would be wrong here.

Quiz: vacunar in use

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

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

  • (a) ha vacunado
  • (b) vacuno
  • (c) habríamos vacunado
  • (d) vacunaste

Answer: (b) vacuno. The I form in the present is vacuno.

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

  • (a) vacuna
  • (b) vacunemos
  • (c) he vacunado
  • (d) habrían vacunado

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

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

  • (a) vacunaron
  • (b) vacunarás
  • (c) vacunó
  • (d) vacunaban

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

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

  • (a) vacunará
  • (b) vacunasteis
  • (c) habré vacunado
  • (d) vacunaba

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

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

  • (a) vacunemos
  • (b) hemos vacunado
  • (c) vacunaré
  • (d) vacunó

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

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

  • (a) vacunaba
  • (b) vacunaban
  • (c) habríais vacunado
  • (d) he vacunado

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

7. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ a los niños.

  • (a) vacunen
  • (b) vacunes
  • (c) vacune
  • (d) vacunemos

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

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

  • (a) vacunamos
  • (b) habríais vacunado
  • (c) vacunaríamos
  • (d) vacunaste

Answer: (a) vacunamos. The we form in the present is vacunamos.

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

  • (a) vacuné
  • (b) vacune
  • (c) vacunaran
  • (d) vacunáramos

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

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

  • (a) había vacunado
  • (b) habíais vacunado
  • (c) vacuno
  • (d) vacunan

Answer: (d) vacunan. The they form in the present is vacunan.

Frequently asked questions about vacunar

Is vacunar regular?

Yes. Vacunar is a regular -ar verb: vacuno, vacunas, vacuna. See the full conjugation of vacunar for every tense.

What is the past participle of vacunar?

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

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

For one finished action, use the preterite: Yo vacuné contra la gripe. For a habit in the past, use the imperfect: Yo vacunaba en el centro de salud.

How can I practise vacunar?

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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