robó
roh-BOH
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
El delincuente robó la bicicleta esta mañana.
A2The criminal stole the bicycle this morning.
Mi hermana me contó que un desconocido le robó el bolso en el metro.
B1My sister told me that a stranger robbed her purse on the subway.
¿Usted robó estas joyas? Necesito saber la verdad.
B1Did you steal these jewels? I need to know the truth.
💡 Grammar Points
Preterite Tense Use
This form ('robó') tells you about a single, completed action in the past. It started and finished at a specific moment.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Preterite and Imperfect
Mistake: "Using 'robaba' (imperfect) instead of 'robó' (preterite) for a finished crime."
Correction: 'Robó' emphasizes the crime happened and ended; 'robaba' would mean the person was continuously or habitually robbing.
⭐ Usage Tips
Using the Direct Object
Unlike English, Spanish often uses 'le/les' (indirect object pronouns) when talking about robbing people: 'Le robó la cartera' (He stole the wallet from her).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: robó
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'robó'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if 'robó' refers to 'he,' 'she,' or 'you (formal)'?
You must look at the context of the conversation or the subject of the sentence. If the subject is 'el señor' (the gentleman) or 'la mujer' (the woman), or if you are speaking formally to someone using 'usted', you use 'robó'.
Is 'robar' used for stealing small things or only major robberies?
'Robar' is a general verb for stealing anything, from a pen to a car. Spanish does have a word for smaller theft, 'hurtar', but 'robar' is much more common and broadly applied.