recobrar Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
recobrar — to recover
Use the imperfect subjunctive ('recobrara', 'recobraras', etc.) for past hypotheticals, wishes, or doubts.
recobrar Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
The imperfect subjunctive is your go-to for talking about hypothetical situations, wishes, regrets, or doubts that were happening or relevant in the past. Think of 'if I recovered...' or 'I wish I had recovered...'. It's often used in 'if' clauses (like 'si recobraras...') or after expressions of desire or emotion in the past.
Notes on recobrar in the Imperfect Subjunctive
'Recobrar' is a regular -ar verb, so its imperfect subjunctive forms are derived regularly from the third-person plural preterite ('recobraron'). The stem remains 'recobr-' and you add the standard endings: -ara, -aras, -ara, -áramos, -arais, -aran (or the -se forms).
Example Sentences
Si recobraras tu antigua energía, podrías viajar más.
If you recovered your old energy, you could travel more.
tú
Ojalá él recobrara la salud pronto.
I wish he would recover his health soon.
él/ella/usted
Nos gustaría que recobráramos la fe en el proyecto.
We would like us to recover faith in the project.
nosotros
Dudaba que ellos recobraran el ánimo después de la noticia.
I doubted they would recover their spirits after the news.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Era necesario que recobrárais la concentración para el examen.
It was necessary for you all to recover your concentration for the exam.
vosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect indicative instead of the imperfect subjunctive in 'if' clauses.
Correct: For hypothetical past situations, use the imperfect subjunctive, e.g., 'Si recobraras...' not 'Si recobraba...'.
Why: The imperfect subjunctive is required for unreal or hypothetical conditions in the past.
Mistake: Confusing the -ra and -se endings.
Correct: Both 'recobrara' and 'recobrase' (and their variations) are correct imperfect subjunctive forms. The -ra form is generally more common in spoken Spanish.
Why: Spanish has two sets of endings for the imperfect subjunctive, and learners might only know one or use them incorrectly.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: recobro
The present tense of 'recobrar' is regular: recobro, recobras, recobra, recobramos, recobráis, recobran.
Preterite
yo: recobré
The preterite of 'recobrar' is regular: recobré, recobraste, recobró, recobramos, recobrasteis, recobraron.
Imperfect
yo: recobraba
The imperfect of 'recobrar' is regular: recobraba, recobrabas, recobraba, recobrábamos, recobrabais, recobraban.
Future
yo: recobraré
The future of 'recobrar' is regular: recobraré, recobrarás, recobrará, recobraremos, recobraréis, recobrarán.
Conditional
yo: recobraría
The conditional of 'recobrar' is regular: recobraría, recobrarías, recobraría, recobraríamos, recobraríais, recobrarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: recobre
Use the present subjunctive ('recobre', 'recobres', etc.) after expressions of desire, doubt, emotion, or uncertainty.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: recobra
Use 'recobra', 'recobre', 'recobremos', 'recobrad', 'recobren' for direct commands with 'recobrar'.
Negative Imperative
yo: no recobres
Use 'no recobres', 'no recobre', 'no recobremos', 'no recobréis', 'no recobren' for negative commands with 'recobrar'.