someter Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation

When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive

This tense is for hypothetical situations, wishes, doubts, or polite requests in the past. Think 'If I were to submit...' or 'I wish you would subdue...'. It's often used in 'if' clauses that are contrary to fact or unlikely.

Notes on someter in the Imperfect Subjunctive

Someter is regular in the imperfect subjunctive. You take the stem from the 'ellos/ellas/ustedes' preterite form ('sometieron' -> 'sometie-') and add the standard imperfect subjunctive endings (-ra, -ras, -ra, -ramos, -rais, -ran).

Example Sentences

• Si yo sometiera mis ideas, quizás me escucharían.

  If I were to submit my ideas, maybe they would listen to me.

  yo

• Ojalá él sometiera sus planes a aprobación.

  I wish he would submit his plans for approval.

  él/ella/usted

• Nos pidieron que sometiéramos toda la documentación.

  They asked us to submit all the documentation.

  nosotros

• ¿Qué harías si te sometieran a esa presión?

  What would you do if they subjected you to that pressure?

  ellos/ellas/ustedes

Common Mistakes

• Mistake: Using the preterite instead of the imperfect subjunctive.

  Correct: For hypothetical or past subjunctive clauses, use forms like 'sometiera' or 'sometiera'.

  Why: The preterite describes completed past actions, while the imperfect subjunctive describes unreal or hypothetical situations in the past.

• Mistake: Confusing the -ra and -se forms (e.g., 'sometiese' vs 'sometiera').

  Correct: Both are correct imperfect subjunctive forms, but 'sometiera' is more common in many regions. Stick to one for consistency.

  Why: Spanish has two sets of endings for the imperfect subjunctive (-ra/-ras/-ra and -se/-ses/-se). They are interchangeable.

Related Tenses