sumir Imperfect Subjunctive Conjugation
sumir — to plunge
The imperfect subjunctive of 'sumir' (sumiera, sumieras, sumiera, sumiéramos, sumierais, sumieran) is used for past hypotheticals and wishes.
sumir Imperfect Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive
Use the imperfect subjunctive to talk about hypothetical situations, wishes, or doubts in the past. It often appears in 'if' clauses ('si...') or after expressions of desire or uncertainty related to past events.
Notes on sumir in the Imperfect Subjunctive
The imperfect subjunctive of 'sumir' is regular. The stem is formed from the third-person plural preterite ('sumieron' -> 'sumier-') and regular endings are added.
Example Sentences
Si sumiera en la oscuridad, no vería nada.
If I were to plunge into darkness, I would see nothing.
yo
Dudaba que tú sumieras en ese problema.
I doubted that you would plunge into that problem.
tú
Ojalá él sumiera en un sueño profundo.
I wish he would plunge into a deep sleep.
él/ella/usted
Sería mejor que nosotros no sumiéramos en la desesperación.
It would be better if we didn't plunge into despair.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the preterite instead of the imperfect subjunctive in 'if' clauses.
Correct: In hypothetical past situations starting with 'Si...', use the imperfect subjunctive (e.g., 'Si sumiera').
Why: The imperfect subjunctive is required for unreal or hypothetical conditions in the past.
Mistake: Confusing the -ra and -se forms.
Correct: Both 'sumiera' and 'sumiese' are correct imperfect subjunctive forms. 'Sumiera' is more common in many regions.
Why: Spanish has two sets of endings for the imperfect subjunctive; familiarity with both is helpful.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: sumo
The present tense of 'sumir' is regular: sumo, sumes, sume, sumimos, sumís, sumen.
Preterite
yo: sumí
The preterite of 'sumir' is regular: sumí, sumiste, sumió, sumimos, sumisteis, sumieron.
Imperfect
yo: sumía
The imperfect of 'sumir' is regular: sumía, sumías, sumía, sumíamos, sumíais, sumían.
Future
yo: sumiré
The future tense of 'sumir' is regular: sumiré, sumirás, sumirá, sumiremos, sumiréis, sumirán.
Conditional
yo: sumiría
The conditional of 'sumir' is regular: sumiría, sumirías, sumiría, sumiríamos, sumiríais, sumirían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: suma
The present subjunctive of 'sumir' (sumas, sumas, suma, sumamos, sumáis, sumen) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, and uncertainty.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: sume
Commands like 'sume' (you singular) and 'sumid' (you plural, Spain) are irregular, while others like 'sumamos' (we) are regular.
Negative Imperative
yo: no sumas
All negative commands for 'sumir' are formed using 'no' plus the present subjunctive, like 'no sumas' (you singular) and 'no sumamos' (we).