operar Present Conjugation
operar — to perform surgery
The present tense of 'operar' (opero) is used for actions happening now, habitual surgeries, or general truths.
operar Present Forms
When to Use the Present
Use the present tense for actions happening at the moment of speaking ('El cirujano opera ahora mismo'), for habitual or repeated actions ('Ella opera tres veces por semana'), or for general truths related to surgery ('Este hospital opera a muchos pacientes').
Notes on operar in the Present
Operar is a regular -ar verb in the present indicative. All forms follow the standard conjugation rules.
Example Sentences
Yo opero en el hospital central.
I operate at the central hospital.
yo
¿Tú operas corazón abierto?
Do you perform open-heart surgery?
tú
El doctor López opera mañana.
Doctor Lopez operates tomorrow.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros operamos pacientes con problemas neurológicos.
We operate on patients with neurological problems.
nosotros
Ellos operan en turnos de 12 horas.
They operate in 12-hour shifts.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the present tense for a specific, completed past surgery.
Correct: For a completed surgery, use the preterite: 'El cirujano operó ayer'. The present tense is for ongoing or habitual actions.
Why: The present tense describes current or habitual reality, not finished past events.
Mistake: Confusing the 'nosotros' form 'operamos' with the preterite.
Correct: Context will differentiate 'operamos' (present) from 'operamos' (preterite). For example, 'Ahora operamos...' vs. 'Ayer operamos...'.
Why: This is a common ambiguity in -ar verbs where present and preterite nosotros forms are identical.
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Related Tenses
Preterite
yo: operé
The preterite of 'operar' is regular: operé, operaste, operó, operamos, operasteis, operaron.
Imperfect
yo: operaba
The imperfect of 'operar' (operaba) describes habitual or ongoing past surgeries, or sets the scene.
Future
yo: operaré
The future tense of 'operar' (operaré) indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: operaría
The conditional of 'operar' (operaría) expresses hypothetical actions ('would operate') or polite requests.
Present Subjunctive
yo: opere
The present subjunctive of 'operar' (opere) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: operara
The imperfect subjunctive of 'operar' (operara/operase) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or polite requests.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: opera
Use the imperative of operar for direct commands: opera, operemos, operen, operad.
Negative Imperative
yo: no operes
Negative commands for 'operar' use the present subjunctive: no operes, no operemos, no operen, no operéis.