sobrar Imperfect Conjugation
sobrar — to be left over
The imperfect of sobrar uses the regular -aba endings: sobraba, sobrabas, sobraba, sobrábamos, sobrabais, sobraban.
sobrar Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use the imperfect to describe a situation in the past where something used to be in excess or was consistently left over as a background condition.
Notes on sobrar in the Imperfect
Sobrar is regular in the imperfect. Note the accent on the 'nosotros' form: sobrábamos.
Example Sentences
En esa época siempre nos sobraba el dinero.
In those days, we always had money to spare.
él/ella/usted
Antes sobraban sillas en el comedor.
Before, there used to be extra chairs in the dining room.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Tú siempre sobrabas de energía por las mañanas.
You always had energy to spare in the mornings.
tú
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite for habitual states.
Correct: Use 'sobraba' for ongoing past states of excess.
Why: Learners often use the preterite for any past action, forgetting the imperfect covers 'used to' scenarios.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: sobro
The present tense of sobrar is regular: sobro, sobras, sobra, sobramos, sobráis, sobran.
Preterite
yo: sobré
The preterite of sobrar follows regular -ar patterns: sobré, sobraste, sobró, sobramos, sobrasteis, sobraron.
Future
yo: sobraré
The future tense of sobrar is formed regularly by adding endings to the infinitive: sobraré, sobrarás, sobrará.
Conditional
yo: sobraría
The conditional of sobrar is regular: sobraría, sobrarías, sobraría, sobraríamos, sobraríais, sobrarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: sobre
The present subjunctive of sobrar is regular: sobre, sobres, sobre, sobremos, sobréis, sobren.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: sobrara
The imperfect subjunctive of sobrar is regular: sobrara, sobraras, sobrara, sobráramos, sobrarais, sobraran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: sobra
The affirmative imperative of sobrar is: sobra (tú), sobre (usted), sobremos (nosotros), sobrad (vosotros), sobren (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no sobres
The negative imperative of sobrar uses present subjunctive forms: no sobres, no sobre, no sobremos, no sobréis, no sobren.