colaborar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
colaborar — to collaborate
The imperfect subjunctive of colaborar expresses past hypotheticals or wishes: colaborara, colaboraras, colaborase.
colaborar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use the imperfect subjunctive of 'colaborar' when talking about hypothetical situations in the past, or to express wishes, doubts, or polite requests related to the past. It's common in 'if' clauses.
Notes on colaborar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Colaborar is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. Both the '-ra' and '-se' endings are correct, though '-ra' is more common.
Example Sentences
Si colaborara más, el proyecto sería un éxito.
If he/she/you collaborated more, the project would be a success.
él/ella/usted
Ojalá colaboráramos todos juntos.
I wish we all collaborated together.
nosotros
Me pidió que colaborara en su investigación.
He asked me to collaborate on his research.
yo
Si vosotras colaborarais, podríamos avanzar.
If you all (Spain) collaborated, we could move forward.
vosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect indicative instead of the imperfect subjunctive: 'Si colaboraba más...'.
Correct: Use the imperfect subjunctive: 'Si colaborara más...'.
Why: Hypothetical or contrary-to-fact conditions require the subjunctive mood.
Mistake: Confusing the '-ra' and '-se' forms, like using '-ra' for nosotros and '-se' for yo.
Correct: The '-ra' forms are: colaborara, colaboraras, colaborara, colaboráramos, colaborarais, colaboraran. The '-se' forms are: colaborase, colaborases, colaborase, colaborásemos, colaboraseis, colaborasen.
Why: While both sets are valid, learners often mix them up or use them incorrectly for specific persons.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: colaboro
The present tense of colaborar is regular: colaboro, colaboras, colabora, colaboramos, colaboráis, colaboran.
Preterite
yo: colaboré
The preterite of colaborar is regular: colaboré, colaboraste, colaboró, colaboramos, colaborasteis, colaboraron.
Imperfect
yo: colaboraba
The imperfect of colaborar describes past habits or ongoing actions: colaboraba, colaborábamos, colaboraban.
Future
yo: colaboraré
The future tense of colaborar is regular: colaboraré, colaborarás, colaborará, colaboraremos, colaboraréis, colaborarán.
Conditional
yo: colaboraría
The conditional of colaborar is regular: colaboraría, colaborarías, colaboraría, colaboraríamos, colaboraríais, colaborarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: colabore
The present subjunctive of colaborar is used for wishes, doubts, and emotions: colabore, colaboremos, colaboren.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: colabora
Use the imperative of colaborar for direct commands: colabora, colaboremos, colaboren, etc.
Negative Imperative
yo: no colabores
Negative commands use 'no' plus the present subjunctive: no colabores, no colaboremos, no colaboren.