Valer Examples, Sentences and Quiz in Spanish

Introduction

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

Everyday use

Valer means to be worth. The sentences below show it in everyday use, in different tenses and persons.

  1. Yo valgo mucho — "I am worth a lot"
  2. Él vale la pena — "It is worth it"
  3. Yo valí dos euros — "I was worth two euros"
  4. Yo valía mucho — "I used to be worth a lot"
  5. Yo valdré la pena — "I will be worth it"
  6. Yo he valido dos euros — "I have been worth two euros"

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 valió dos euros — "It was worth two euros"
  2. Él valía mucho — "It used to be worth a lot"
  3. Tú valdrás la pena — "You will be worth it"
  4. Yo valdría dos euros — "I would be worth two euros"
  5. Yo había valido mucho — "I had been worth a lot"
  6. Nosotros valemos la pena — "We are worth it"

Valer in conversation

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

Dialogue 1

  • ¿Tú vales mucho? — "Do you be worth a lot?"
  • Sí, yo valgo mucho cada día. — "Yes, I am worth a lot every day."
  • ¿Y ayer? ¿Tú valiste la pena? — "And yesterday? Did you be worth it?"
  • Sí, yo valí la pena. — "Yes, I was worth it."
  • Mañana, yo valdré dos euros también. — "Tomorrow, I will be worth two euros too."

Dialogue 2

  • ¿Vosotros valéis mucho? — "Do you be worth a lot?"
  • Sí, nosotros valemos mucho los fines de semana. — "Yes, We are worth a lot at the weekends."
  • ¿Y ellos? ¿Ellos valen la pena? — "And them? Do they be worth it?"
  • Sí, ellos valen la pena también. — "Yes, They are worth it too."
  • Mañana nosotros valdremos la pena otra vez. — "Tomorrow we will be worth it again."

Useful phrases with valer

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

  • Voy a valer mucho. — "I am going to be worth a lot."
  • Quiero valer la pena. — "I want to be worth it."
  • Me gusta valer dos euros. — "I like to be worth two euros."
  • Acabo de valer mucho. — "I have just been worth a lot."

Common mistakes with valer in everyday use

Mistake 1

  • Wrong: Ellos vale mucho.
  • Right: Ellos valen mucho.
  • Why: Ellos needs the ellos form valen. The singular vale belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

Mistake 2

  • Wrong: Todos los días, yo valí.
  • Right: Todos los días, yo valgo.
  • 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 valido la pena.
  • Right: Yo he valido la pena.
  • Why: Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he valido, has valido, ha valido.

Mistake 4

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

Mistake 5

  • Wrong: Espero que él vale mucho.
  • Right: Espero que él valga mucho.
  • Why: After espero que, Spanish needs the present subjunctive: valga. The indicative form would be wrong here.

Quiz: valer in use

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

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

  • (a) valisteis
  • (b) valgo
  • (c) han valido
  • (d) valdrán

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

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

  • (a) valdré
  • (b) vale
  • (c) han valido
  • (d) habría valido

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

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

  • (a) habíais valido
  • (b) valemos
  • (c) has valido
  • (d) valió

Answer: (d) valió. The he / she form in the preterite is valió.

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

  • (a) valed
  • (b) valían
  • (c) valieron
  • (d) valía

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

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

  • (a) habríamos valido
  • (b) he valido
  • (c) habrás valido
  • (d) valdré

Answer: (d) valdré. The I form in the future is valdré.

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

  • (a) he valido
  • (b) habríais valido
  • (c) valdrían
  • (d) valgamos

Answer: (a) he valido. The I form in the present perfect is he valido.

7. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ mucho.

  • (a) valga
  • (b) valgas
  • (c) valgáis
  • (d) valgan

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

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

  • (a) valemos
  • (b) he valido
  • (c) habrías valido
  • (d) valed

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

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

  • (a) han valido
  • (b) valí
  • (c) valen
  • (d) valdría

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

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

  • (a) valen
  • (b) habríais valido
  • (c) habrían valido
  • (d) habrán valido

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

Frequently asked questions about valer

Is valer regular?

Valer is an irregular -er verb: valgo, vales, vale. See the full conjugation of valer for every tense.

What is the past participle of valer?

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

How do I say “I be worth” in the past?

For one finished action, use the preterite: Yo valí la pena. For a habit in the past, use the imperfect: Yo valía dos euros.

How can I practise valer?

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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