Acepto con tal de que no cobren cargos mensuales.

Questions & Answers about Acepto con tal de que no cobren cargos mensuales.

What does con tal de que mean in this sentence?

Con tal de que means as long as, provided that, or on the condition that.

So the sentence means something like:

I agree, as long as they don’t charge monthly fees.

It introduces a condition that must be met.

A few similar expressions are:

  • siempre que = as long as / provided that
  • a condición de que = on the condition that
  • con la condición de que = with the condition that

Con tal de que is very common and natural.

Why is it cobren and not cobran?

Because con tal de que normally triggers the subjunctive.

After expressions of condition, doubt, desire, emotion, or uncertainty, Spanish often uses the subjunctive. Here, the speaker is accepting something only under a condition, so Spanish uses:

  • que no cobren = that they not charge

not

  • que no cobran = that they do not charge

The subjunctive form here is cobren, from the verb cobrar.

Compare:

  • Acepto si no cobran cargos mensuales. = I agree if they don’t charge monthly fees.
  • Acepto con tal de que no cobren cargos mensuales. = I agree as long as they don’t charge monthly fees.

Both can be correct, but con tal de que strongly calls for the subjunctive.

Who is the subject of cobren?

The subject is they or you all, depending on context.

In Latin American Spanish, cobren could refer to:

  • ellos/ellas = they
  • ustedes = you all

Since Spanish often leaves the subject unstated, you figure it out from context.

So this could mean:

  • I agree as long as they don’t charge monthly fees or
  • I agree as long as you all don’t charge monthly fees

In many real-life situations, it would probably refer to a company, service provider, bank, platform, etc.

Why is there a no before cobren?

Because the speaker is stating a negative condition:

  • no cobren = do not charge

Without no, the meaning would change completely:

  • Acepto con tal de que cobren cargos mensuales. = I agree as long as they charge monthly fees.

That would mean the opposite of the original sentence.

In Spanish, no normally goes directly before the conjugated verb:

  • no cobren
  • no acepto
  • no quiero
What exactly does cargos mensuales mean?

Cargos mensuales means monthly charges or monthly fees.

  • cargo = charge, fee
  • mensual = monthly

Since cargos is plural, the adjective also becomes plural:

  • cargo mensual = monthly charge
  • cargos mensuales = monthly charges

Depending on context, English might translate this as:

  • monthly fees
  • monthly charges
  • recurring monthly charges
Why does mensuales come after cargos?

Because in Spanish, adjectives usually come after the noun.

So:

  • cargos mensuales = monthly charges
  • tarifa mensual = monthly fee
  • pagos anuales = annual payments

English often puts adjectives before the noun, but Spanish usually puts them after.

This is one of the most common word-order differences between English and Spanish.

Why doesn’t the sentence say yo acepto?

Because Spanish often omits subject pronouns when they are not needed.

The verb acepto already tells you the subject is I:

  • acepto = I accept / I agree

So both are possible:

  • Acepto con tal de que no cobren cargos mensuales.
  • Yo acepto con tal de que no cobren cargos mensuales.

Adding yo is usually only for emphasis, contrast, or clarity.

For example:

  • Yo acepto, pero ella no. = I agree, but she doesn’t.
Is acepto better translated as I accept or I agree?

It depends on context.

Acepto literally means I accept, but in many situations it can sound like:

  • I agree
  • I’ll accept
  • That works for me
  • I’m okay with it

For example:

  • in a contract or offer: I accept
  • in a conversation or negotiation: I agree / I’ll go along with it

So the best English translation depends on what is being accepted.

Could I say Acepto si no cobran cargos mensuales instead?

Yes, you could, and it would sound natural in many contexts.

  • Acepto si no cobran cargos mensuales. = I agree if they don’t charge monthly fees.

But there is a slight difference in feel:

  • si = if
  • con tal de que = as long as / provided that

Con tal de que sounds a bit more like a firm condition. It emphasizes that this is the requirement for acceptance.

So:

  • si no cobran... = if they don’t charge...
  • con tal de que no cobren... = provided that they don’t charge...
Why is there no article before cargos mensuales?

Spanish often omits the article when speaking about things in a general or indefinite way.

So:

  • no cobren cargos mensuales = they don’t charge monthly fees

This sounds natural because it refers to monthly fees in general, not to specific known fees.

You could sometimes see an article in other contexts, but here the version without one is the most natural.

Compare:

  • No cobran cargos mensuales. = They don’t charge monthly fees.
  • No cobran los cargos mensuales que antes cobraban. = They don’t charge the monthly fees that they used to charge.

The second one refers to specific fees, so los makes sense there.

Is this sentence formal or informal?

It is neutral and works in both formal and everyday situations.

Nothing in it is especially slangy or especially stiff. It would sound natural in contexts like:

  • talking to a company
  • agreeing to a service
  • discussing a contract
  • responding to an offer

The level of formality depends mostly on the situation, not on the grammar itself.

If you wanted something more formal, you might say:

  • Acepto a condición de que no se cobren cargos mensuales.

If you wanted something very conversational, you might say:

  • Está bien, siempre y cuando no cobren cargos mensuales.
Can cobrar mean different kinds of charge?

Yes. Cobrar is a very common verb that usually means to charge, to collect money, or to receive payment.

In this sentence, it means:

  • to charge a fee

Examples:

  • Cobran mucho por ese servicio. = They charge a lot for that service.
  • No cobran entrada. = They don’t charge admission.
  • Voy a cobrar mañana. = I’m going to get paid tomorrow.

So the exact English translation depends on context, but here charge is the right meaning.

AI Language TutorTry it ↗
Your avatar
How does verb conjugation work in Spanish?
Spanish verbs change form based on the subject, tense, and mood. Regular verbs follow predictable patterns depending on whether they end in ‑ar, ‑er, or ‑ir. For example, "hablar" (to speak) becomes "hablo" (I speak), "hablas" (you speak), and "habla" (he/she speaks) in the present tense.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Spanish

Master Spanish — from Acepto con tal de que no cobren cargos mensuales to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

  • Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • AI tutor to answer your grammar questions