cobrar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
cobrar — to charge (a price)
The imperfect subjunctive of cobrar (e.g., cobrara, cobrara, cobráramos) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or polite requests.
cobrar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
This tense is for hypothetical situations in the past or present, expressing wishes, doubts, or making very polite requests. Imagine saying 'If I were to charge...', or 'I wish you would charge...'.
Notes on cobrar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Cobrar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. Both the -ra and -se forms exist, but the -ra form (cobrara, cobraras, etc.) is more common.
Example Sentences
Si cobrara más, podría ahorrar.
If I charged more, I could save.
yo
Me gustaría que tú cobraras menos.
I would like you to charge less.
tú
Ojalá él cobrara un precio justo.
I wish he would charge a fair price.
él/ella/usted
Si nosotros cobráramos por adelantado, tendríamos más liquidez.
If we charged upfront, we would have more liquidity.
nosotros
Ellos actuaron como si no nos cobraran nada.
They acted as if they weren't charging us anything.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite or imperfect indicative instead of the imperfect subjunctive: 'Si cobraba más...'
Correct: For hypothetical 'if' clauses, use the imperfect subjunctive: 'Si cobrara más...'.
Why: The subjunctive mood is required for hypothetical or uncertain situations, distinct from factual past actions.
Mistake: Confusing the -ra and -se forms, or using incorrect endings.
Correct: Ensure you use the correct endings for the -ra form (e.g., cobrara, cobraras, cobráramos).
Why: Both -ra and -se forms are correct, but learners often struggle with the specific endings for each person.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'cobrar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: cobro
The present tense of cobrar (cobro, cobras, cobra, etc.) describes habitual actions, current actions, or general truths.
Preterite
yo: cobré
The preterite of cobrar (cobré, cobraste, cobró, etc.) is used for completed actions in the past, like charging a specific amount at a specific time.
Imperfect
yo: cobraba
The imperfect tense of cobrar (cobraba, cobrabas, etc.) describes ongoing or habitual past actions, or sets the background scene.
Future
yo: cobraré
The future tense of cobrar (cobraré, cobrarás, cobrará, etc.) indicates actions that will happen or expresses probability.
Conditional
yo: cobraría
The conditional tense of cobrar (cobraría, cobrarías, etc.) expresses 'would' actions, polite requests, or future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: cobre
The present subjunctive of cobrar (cobre, cobres, cobre, cobremos, cobréis, cobren) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: cobra
Cobrar's imperative forms give direct commands: cobra (tú), cobre (usted), cobremos (nosotros), cobren (ustedes), cobrad (vosotros).
Negative Imperative
yo: no cobres
Negative commands for 'cobrar' use the present subjunctive: no cobres (tú), no cobre (usted), no cobremos (nosotros), no cobren (ustedes), no cobréis (vosotros).