Colaborar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb colaborar means to collaborate, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Colaborar means to collaborate, and it is used for working together on a project, helping a charity, writing for a magazine and working with colleagues. It takes con for the partner and en for the project, as in colaborar con el equipo en el proyecto. Like every Spanish verb, colaborar changes its ending for each person and tense, and this page gives you the complete picture: every tense, every person, the gerund and the past participle, all from the verified conjugation tables. For example, in the present tense you say colaboro con el equipo en el proyecto, and in the preterite you say colaboré en la revista del barrio. Work through the tables below, read the notes for each tense, and then test yourself with the examples, the common mistakes and the quiz at the end of the page.
Quick facts
- Infinitive: colaborar
- English: to collaborate
- Verb type: regular -ar verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: colaborando
- Past participle: colaborado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + colaborado)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for colaborar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Colaborar is fully regular: colaboré, colaboraba, colaboraré. It takes con for the partner: colaboro con el equipo.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for colaborar. The imperfect subjunctive is shown in its -ra forms; the -se forms use the same stem. For reflexive verbs, the pronoun column shows the reflexive pronoun that goes before each form.
Present indicative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | colaboro |
| tú | colaboras |
| él/ella/Ud. | colabora |
| nosotros/as | colaboramos |
| vosotros/as | colaboráis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | colaboran |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | colaboré |
| tú | colaboraste |
| él/ella/Ud. | colaboró |
| nosotros/as | colaboramos |
| vosotros/as | colaborasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | colaboraron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | colaboraba |
| tú | colaborabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | colaboraba |
| nosotros/as | colaborábamos |
| vosotros/as | colaborabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | colaboraban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | colaboraré |
| tú | colaborarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | colaborará |
| nosotros/as | colaboraremos |
| vosotros/as | colaboraréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | colaborarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | colaboraría |
| tú | colaborarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | colaboraría |
| nosotros/as | colaboraríamos |
| vosotros/as | colaboraríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | colaborarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he colaborado |
| tú | has colaborado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha colaborado |
| nosotros/as | hemos colaborado |
| vosotros/as | habéis colaborado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han colaborado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había colaborado |
| tú | habías colaborado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había colaborado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos colaborado |
| vosotros/as | habíais colaborado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían colaborado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré colaborado |
| tú | habrás colaborado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá colaborado |
| nosotros/as | habremos colaborado |
| vosotros/as | habréis colaborado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán colaborado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría colaborado |
| tú | habrías colaborado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría colaborado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos colaborado |
| vosotros/as | habríais colaborado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían colaborado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | colabore |
| tú | colabores |
| él/ella/Ud. | colabore |
| nosotros/as | colaboremos |
| vosotros/as | colaboréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | colaboren |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | colaborara |
| tú | colaboraras |
| él/ella/Ud. | colaborara |
| nosotros/as | colaboráramos |
| vosotros/as | colaborarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | colaboraran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | colabora |
| él/ella/Ud. | colabore |
| nosotros/as | colaboremos |
| vosotros/as | colaborad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | colaboren |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | colabores |
| él/ella/Ud. | colabore |
| nosotros/as | colaboremos |
| vosotros/as | colaboréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | colaboren |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | colaborando | with estar for the progressive: estoy colaborando |
| Past participle | colaborado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he colaborado |
How to use each tense
Present indicative
Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For colaborar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Colaboro con el equipo en el proyecto. Learn the present forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Preterite
Use the preterite for finished actions with a clear end, often with ayer, el año pasado or anoche. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For colaborar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, colaboré con la Cruz Roja. Learn the preterite forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperfect
Use the imperfect for background, habits and actions in progress in the past, often with de niño, antes or mientras. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For colaborar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, colaboraba en la revista del barrio. Learn the imperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Future
Use the future for plans, predictions and promises, often with mañana, el año que viene or pronto. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For colaborar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, colaboraré con mis compañeros. Learn the future forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Conditional
Use the conditional for polite requests, hypotheticals and what would happen, often with si clauses. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For colaborar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Colaboraría con el equipo en el proyecto si pudiera. Learn the conditional forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Present perfect
Use the present perfect for recent actions and experiences, often with hoy, esta semana or ya. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For colaborar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he colaborado con la Cruz Roja. Learn the present perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Pluperfect
Use the pluperfect when one past action happened before another past action. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For colaborar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había colaborado en la revista del barrio antes de salir. Learn the pluperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Future perfect
Use the future perfect for something that will already be finished by a future time. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For colaborar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré colaborado con mis compañeros. Learn the future perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Conditional perfect
Use the conditional perfect for what would have happened under different conditions. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For colaborar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría colaborado con el equipo en el proyecto con más tiempo. Learn the conditional perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Present subjunctive
Use the present subjunctive after expressions of wish, doubt, emotion and hope, such as espero que or quiero que. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For colaborar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él colabore con la Cruz Roja. Learn the present subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
Use the imperfect subjunctive after past wishes and in si clauses about the past, and note the -ra forms shown here; the -se forms use the same stem. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For colaborar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él colaborara en la revista del barrio, todo cambiaría. Learn the imperfect subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperative (affirmative)
Use the affirmative imperative for direct commands, instructions and invitations. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For colaborar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡colabora con mis compañeros! Learn the affirmative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperative (negative)
Use the negative imperative, always with no, to tell someone not to do something. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For colaborar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No colabores con el equipo en el proyecto. Learn the negative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with colaborar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Colaboro con el equipo en el proyecto. — I collaborate with the team on the project.
- Colabora con la Cruz Roja. — He/she collaborates with the Red Cross.
- Ayer, colaboré en la revista del barrio. — Yesterday, I collaborated in the neighbourhood magazine.
- Antes, nosotros colaborábamos con mis compañeros. — Before, we used to collaborate with my colleagues.
- Mañana, tú colaborarás con el equipo en el proyecto. — Tomorrow, you will collaborate with the team on the project.
- Yo colaboraría con la Cruz Roja si tuviera más tiempo. — I would collaborate with the Red Cross if I had more time.
- Él ha colaborado en la revista del barrio. — He has collaborated in the neighbourhood magazine.
- Espero que él colabore con mis compañeros. — I hope he collaborates with my colleagues.
- Yo ya había colaborado con el equipo en el proyecto antes de salir. — I had already collaborated with the team on the project before leaving.
- Ellos colaboraban con la Cruz Roja cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to collaborate with the Red Cross when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo colabora con el equipo en el proyecto. — Right: Yo colaboro con el equipo en el proyecto. — The person matters: colabora is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is colaboro. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Treating colaborar and cooperar as identical in every context. — Right: Colaborar means to collaborate, while cooperar means to cooperate with someone. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: colaborar fits sentences such as Colaboro con el equipo en el proyecto, while cooperar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy colaborado con la Cruz Roja. — Right: Yo he colaborado con la Cruz Roja. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he colaborado, has colaborado, ha colaborado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo colaboré en la revista del barrio todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo colaboraba en la revista del barrio todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (colaboraba), not the preterite. The preterite (colaboré) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on colaborar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ con el equipo en el proyecto. (present tense) A. colaboro B. colaboras C. colabora D. colaboramos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ con la Cruz Roja. (preterite) A. colaboré B. colaboraste C. colaboraron D. colaboró
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ en la revista del barrio. (imperfect) A. colaborabas B. colaboraban C. colaborábamos D. colaboraba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ con mis compañeros. (future) A. colaboraremos B. colaborarás C. colaboraré D. colaborará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ con el equipo en el proyecto si pudiera. (conditional) A. colaboraría B. colaborarías C. colaborarían D. colaboro
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ con la Cruz Roja. (present subjunctive) A. colabores B. colaboremos C. colaboro D. colabore
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ en la revista del barrio, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. colaboráramos B. colaboro C. colaborara D. colaboraras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ con mis compañeros. (present perfect) A. han colaborado B. hemos colaborado C. he colaborado D. has colaborado
Complete the command: ¡___ con el equipo en el proyecto! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. colabora B. colabore C. colaboremos D. colaborad
Which is the gerund of colaborar, used with estar for the progressive? A. colaborado B. colaboro C. colaboré D. colaborando
Answer key
- colaboro — The first-person present of colaborar is colaboro. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- colaboró — The third-person preterite of colaborar is colaboró, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- colaborábamos — The nosotros imperfect of colaborar is colaborábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- colaborarás — The second-person future of colaborar is colaborarás.
- colaboraría — The first-person conditional of colaborar is colaboraría, the form for what would happen.
- colabore — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of colaborar is colabore.
- colaborara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of colaborar is colaborara.
- hemos colaborado — The nosotros present perfect of colaborar is hemos colaborado: hemos + colaborado.
- colabora — The affirmative tú imperative of colaborar is colabora.
- colaborando — The gerund of colaborar is colaborando: estoy colaborando. The participle colaborado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does colaborar mean in English?
Colaborar means to collaborate. It is used in everyday situations such as Colaboro con el equipo en el proyecto. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is colaborar regular or irregular?
Colaborar is a fully regular -ar verb, so every tense follows the standard endings for its class. Once you know the regular pattern, you can produce every form on this page, including colaboro in the present and colaboré in the preterite.
What is the difference between colaborar and cooperar?
Colaborar means to collaborate, while cooperar means to cooperate with someone. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use colaborar when you mean to collaborate, as in Colaboro con el equipo en el proyecto, and use cooperar for to cooperate with someone. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I collaborate” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo colaboré con la Cruz Roja. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo colaboraba en la revista del barrio. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he colaborado con la Cruz Roja.
How do I practise colaborar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the colaborar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Colaborar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for colaborar.
- Colaborar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for colaborar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Combinar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with colaborar.
- Citar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with colaborar.
- Circular conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with colaborar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.