Introduction

Robar means “to steal”, and this page covers exactly one thing: robar in the present tense. The present is the tense Spanish speakers reach for when they talk about what happens regularly and what is happening now. On this page you will find the full present table for robar, how the tense is formed for this verb, the situations where it is used, how it differs from the preterite, worked examples, the mistakes learners make most often, an eight-question quiz with explained answers, and answers to the questions students ask about robar in the present. Robar in the present describes a habit, a fact or something happening right now. For example: “Yo robo una bicicleta” — "I steal a bicycle". Everything on this page uses the forms of robar exactly as they are conjugated in the present, so you can trust every form you see here.

Robar in the Present Tense — full table

Person Form
yo robo
tú robas
él/ella/Ud. roba
nosotros/as robamos
vosotros/as robáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. roban

Gerund: robando · Past participle: robado

The gerund is robando, which you use with estar to say what is happening right now: “Estoy robando” means the action of robar is in progress at this very moment. The past participle is robado, which you use with haber in the perfect tenses: “he robado” is the present perfect, used for a completed action. Keep both forms in mind as you read the examples below, because the present is only one part of how robar is used.

How the present of robar is formed

Robar is a regular -ar verb in the present. Take the stem rob and add the present endings for -ar verbs: -o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an, giving robo, robas, roba, robamos, robáis, roban. Watch the accents: the vosotros form, robáis, carries an accent on the á, é or í. The present of robar is fully regular, but two details deserve attention. First, the accents: the vosotros form robáis carries a written accent. Second, the yo form robo is the form the present subjunctive is built from, so learn it well — it unlocks the subjunctive too.

When to use the present of robar

The present is not a single-purpose tense. Below are the five situations where you will use robar in the present most often. Each one comes with a real example, so read the rule, then say the example out loud.

1. Routines and habits

The present is the tense of what you do regularly. When something happens todos los días, cada semana or los fines de semana, robar goes in the present. Example: “Yo robo un banco” — "I steal a bank".

2. General facts

Use the present for things that are true in general, not just today. A fact about robar does not need a time word at all. Example: “Él roba la cartera” — "He steals the wallet".

3. What is happening now

The present also covers what is happening at this very moment. Spanish often uses the simple present where English would use the -ing form, so robo can mean both "I steal" and "I am stealing". Example: “Yo robo una bicicleta” — "I steal a bicycle".

4. Timetables and fixed plans

For a fixed plan or a timetable, Spanish uses the present: the plan is already decided, so the present states it as a fact. This is common with travel, lessons and appointments. Example: “Nosotros robamos un banco” — "We steal a bank".

5. Telling a story

Stories are sometimes told in the present to make them feel immediate, even when they happened in the past. This is the historical present, and it works with robar just as it does with any other verb. Example: “Él roba la cartera” — "He steals the wallet".

Present Tense vs Preterite: how to choose

The closest tense to the present is the preterite, and choosing between them is one of the first decisions in Spanish. The rule is simple: the present reports what happens regularly or what is happening now, while the preterite reports one finished action in the past. The three pairs below use the same verb, so the only thing that changes is whether the action is a habit or a finished event. Time words help: todos los días and cada semana point to the present, while ayer and la semana pasada point to the preterite.

  • Present Tense: “Yo robo una bicicleta” — "I steal a bicycle".

  • Preterite: “Yo robé una bicicleta” — "I stole a bicycle".

  • The present sentence describes a habit or something happening now; the preterite sentence reports one finished action in the past. That difference — routine versus finished event — is the whole decision.

  • Present Tense: “Él roba un banco” — "He steals a bank".

  • Preterite: “Él robó un banco” — "He stole a bank".

  • The present sentence describes a habit or something happening now; the preterite sentence reports one finished action in the past. That difference — routine versus finished event — is the whole decision.

  • Present Tense: “Nosotros robamos la cartera” — "We steal the wallet".

  • Preterite: “Nosotros robamos la cartera” — "We stole the wallet".

  • The two sentences look identical: robamos is the same in the present and the preterite. Only the time words around it tell you which tense is meant.

Example sentences: robar in the present

Read these eight sentences out loud. They cover all six persons, so by the end you will have seen every form in the table used in a real sentence. Pay attention to the words around the verb — the time expressions, the objects, the other verbs — because those are what make each sentence sound natural.

  1. “Yo robo un banco” — "I steal a bank"

  2. “Tú robas la cartera” — "You steal the wallet"

  3. “Él roba una bicicleta” — "He steals a bicycle"

  4. “Nosotros robamos un banco” — "We steal a bank"

  5. “Vosotros robáis la cartera” — "You steal the wallet"

  6. “Ellos roban una bicicleta” — "They steal a bicycle"

  7. “Yo robo un banco” — "I steal a bank"

  8. “Él roba la cartera” — "He steals the wallet"

Common mistakes with robar in the present

These are the errors learners actually make with this verb in this tense. Each one shows the wrong version, the right version, and why the correction matters.

  • Wrong: “Ellos roba una bicicleta” Right: “Ellos roban una bicicleta” Why: Ellos needs the ellos form roban. The singular roba belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

  • Wrong: “Todos los días, yo robé” Right: “Todos los días, yo robo” Why: Todos los días describes a habit, so the present is right. The preterite (robé) is for one finished action, not for routines.

  • Wrong: “Yo roba una bicicleta.” Right: “Yo robo una bicicleta” Why: Yo needs the yo form robo. The él form roba belongs with él, ella or a singular noun.

  • Wrong: “Ayer, yo robo” Right: “Ayer, yo robé” Why: The present tense cannot describe a finished action yesterday. Ayer forces the preterite, so the form must change to robé.

Quiz: robar in the present

Choose the correct answer for each question, then check the answer key. Every answer is explained, so a wrong answer still teaches you something.

1. Complete the sentence: “Yo ___ la cartera.” (yo form)

A. robamos B. robas C. roba D. robo

2. Complete the sentence: “Tú ___ una bicicleta.” (tú form)

A. robamos B. roban C. robas D. robo

3. Complete the sentence: “Él ___ un banco.” (él/ella/Ud. form)

A. roba B. robas C. robáis D. robo

4. Complete the sentence: “Nosotros ___ la cartera.” (nosotros/as form)

A. robo B. robamos C. roba D. robáis

5. Complete the sentence: “Vosotros ___ una bicicleta.” (vosotros/as form)

A. roba B. robas C. roban D. robáis

6. Complete the sentence: “Ellos ___ un banco.” (ellos/ellas/Uds. form)

A. roban B. robáis C. robas D. robo

7. Which time expression points to the present tense?

A. todos los días B. ayer C. la semana pasada D. anoche

8. Which sentence is correct?

A. Todos los días, yo robo B. Todos los días, yo robé

Answer key

  1. robo — The yo present of robar is robo.
  2. robas — The tú present of robar is robas.
  3. roba — The él/ella/Ud. present of robar is roba.
  4. robamos — The nosotros/as present of robar is robamos.
  5. robáis — The vosotros/as present of robar is robáis.
  6. roban — The ellos/ellas/Uds. present of robar is roban.
  7. todos los días — Todos los días describes a habit, so the present is right. Ayer, la semana pasada and anoche all point to the preterite.
  8. Todos los días, yo robo — Todos los días is a habit, so the present is correct. The preterite is for one finished action.

Frequently asked questions

When do I use the present of robar?

Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening now. For example: Yo robo una bicicleta. If the action is a habit or happening now, the present is the right choice.

How is the present of robar formed?

Take the stem rob- and add the present endings for -ar verbs (-o, -as, -a, -amos, -áis, -an), giving robo, robas, roba, robamos, robáis, roban.

What is the difference between the present and the preterite for robar?

The present (robo) describes a habit or something happening now, while the preterite (robé) counts one finished action in the past. Compare the two sentences in the contrast section above: the verb is the same, only the tense changes.

How can I practise robar in the present?

Say the six forms out loud — robo, robas, roba, robamos, robáis, roban — then use them in the example sentences above, changing the person each time. Then try the robar examples and quiz page, and the full conjugation of robar when you want to compare the present with the other tenses.

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