robar Imperfect Conjugation
robar — to steal
The imperfect of robar is regular, using the -aba ending for all forms like robaba, robabas, and robábamos.
robar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use this tense to describe background situations or ongoing theft in the past. It’s perfect for saying someone 'was stealing' or used to steal habitually before they were caught.
Notes on robar in the Imperfect
Robar is completely regular in the imperfect. Remember that the 'nosotros' form (robábamos) is the only one that carries a written accent.
Example Sentences
De niño, él robaba dulces de la tienda.
As a child, he used to steal candy from the store.
él/ella/usted
Sentíamos que nos robaban el tiempo.
We felt like they were stealing our time.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Tú siempre me robabas mis ideas.
You were always stealing my ideas.
tú
Common Mistakes
Mistake: robabamos
Correct: robábamos
Why: All -ar verbs in the imperfect require an accent on the first 'a' of the 'nosotros' ending.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'robar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: robo
The present tense of robar follows standard -ar patterns: robo, robas, roba, robamos, robáis, roban.
Preterite
yo: robé
The preterite of robar is regular: robé, robaste, robó, robamos, robasteis, robaron.
Future
yo: robaré
The future tense of robar is formed by adding -é, -ás, -á, -emos, -éis, -án to the infinitive.
Conditional
yo: robaría
The conditional of robar uses the infinitive plus -ía endings: robaría, robarías, robaría...
Present Subjunctive
yo: robe
The present subjunctive of robar changes the 'a' to 'e': robe, robes, robe, robemos, robéis, roben.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: robara
The imperfect subjunctive of robar uses the -ra endings: robara, robaras, robara, robáramos...
Affirmative Imperative
yo: ¡Roba!
Affirmative commands for robar are: roba (tú), robe (usted), robad (vosotros), roben (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: ¡No robes!
Negative commands use 'no' plus the present subjunctive: no robes, no robe, no robemos.