cobrar Present Subjunctive Conjugation
cobrar — to charge (a price)
The present subjunctive of cobrar (cobre, cobres, cobre, cobremos, cobréis, cobren) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty.
cobrar Present Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Present Subjunctive
Use the present subjunctive when the main clause expresses doubt, desire, emotion, or an impersonal opinion, and the subject of the two clauses is different. For 'cobrar', think 'I doubt they will charge', 'I want you to charge'.
Notes on cobrar in the Present Subjunctive
Cobrar is regular in the present subjunctive. It follows the pattern of replacing the '-ar' ending with '-e' for yo/él/ella/usted/ellos/ellas/ustedes and '-es' for tú.
Example Sentences
Dudo que él cobre por ese trabajo.
I doubt he will charge for that job.
él/ella/usted
Quiero que tú cobres un precio justo.
I want you to charge a fair price.
tú
Es importante que cobremos a tiempo.
It's important that we charge on time.
nosotros
Esperamos que ustedes cobren lo prometido.
We hope you will charge what was promised.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
No creo que vosotros cobréis tanto.
I don't think you (plural, informal) will charge so much.
vosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the indicative instead of the subjunctive: 'Dudo que él cobra...'
Correct: After verbs of doubt like 'dudar', use the present subjunctive: 'Dudo que él cobre...'.
Why: Expressions of doubt, desire, and emotion trigger the subjunctive mood.
Mistake: Using the subjunctive when the subject is the same: 'Yo cobro un precio justo.' vs 'Quiero cobrar un precio justo.'
Correct: If the subject is the same, use the infinitive: 'Quiero cobrar un precio justo.' The subjunctive is used when subjects differ (e.g., 'Quiero que tú cobres...').
Why: The subjunctive is generally used to link two clauses with different subjects.
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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.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: cobrara
The imperfect subjunctive of cobrar (e.g., cobrara, cobrara, cobráramos) is used for past hypotheticals, wishes, or polite requests.
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).