sumar Preterite Conjugation
sumar — to add
The preterite of sumar is regular: sumé, sumaste, sumó, sumamos, sumasteis, sumaron.
sumar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite of sumar to talk about adding something up that was completed at a specific point in the past. For example, 'Sumé los números ayer' (I added up the numbers yesterday) or 'Sumaron los votos al final del día' (They added up the votes at the end of the day).
Notes on sumar in the Preterite
Sumar is fully regular in the preterite tense. All conjugations follow the standard pattern for -ar verbs.
Example Sentences
Sumé los precios y me dio un total inesperado.
I added up the prices and got an unexpected total.
yo
¿Sumaste la propina a la cuenta?
Did you add the tip to the bill?
tú
Ella sumó las calificaciones y nos dio el promedio.
She added up the grades and gave us the average.
él/ella/usted
Los contadores sumaron los ingresos del trimestre.
The accountants added up the quarter's income.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Sumamos todas las distancias y nos sorprendimos.
We added up all the distances and were surprised.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the imperfect instead of the preterite for a completed action.
Correct: Use 'Sumé los números ayer' (I added the numbers yesterday) not 'Sumaba los números ayer'.
Why: The preterite is for actions with a clear beginning and end, like finishing adding numbers, while the imperfect describes an ongoing or habitual past action.
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on the 'yo' form.
Correct: It's 'sumé', not 'sume'.
Why: The accent on the final 'é' in 'sumé' is crucial; it distinguishes the preterite 'yo' form from the present subjunctive/imperative 'usted' form.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: sumo
The present of sumar is regular: sumo, sumas, suma, sumamos, sumáis, suman.
Imperfect
yo: sumaba
The imperfect of sumar is regular: sumaba, sumabas, sumaba, sumábamos, sumabais, sumaban.
Future
yo: sumaré
The future of sumar is regular: sumaré, sumarás, sumará, sumaremos, sumaréis, sumarán.
Conditional
yo: sumaría
The conditional of sumar is regular: sumaría, sumarías, sumaría, sumaríamos, sumaríais, sumarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: sume
The present subjunctive of sumar (sume) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, or emotion.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: sumara
The imperfect subjunctive of sumar (sumara/sumase) is used for past hypotheticals or polite requests.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: suma
The imperative of sumar is regular: suma, sume, sumemos, sumen, sumad.
Negative Imperative
yo: no sumes
The negative imperative of sumar uses the present subjunctive: no sumes, no sume, no sumemos, no sumen, no suméis.