Asumir plus subjunctive?

Question

Should the verb asumir be followed by the subjunctive in the dependent clause? ¿Asumo que esté una adolescente? Or does assuming indicate a lack of doubt?

Answer 1

You probably want presumir or suponer with que and the subjunctive.

I don't know why you said this lorenzo.

Babs, what you are looking for is:

¿Supongo que es adolescente?

I guess you are wanting to say: I suppose /asume she is young.

Please include some context.

Sorry. Context: We're writing essays, playing the role of an advice columnist. I'm responding to a mother who's concerned about her daughter's boyfriend, but the age of the daughter isn't stated. So, I'm trying to say "I assume she's an adolescent?" - babs_irish, Oct 27, 2010

Answer 2

Asumir does not mean assume in the sense of suppose to be true, but rather in the sense of to assume control.

You probably want presumir or suponer with que and the subjunctive.

Answer 3

Lorenzo: Maybe this is a philosophical question more than a linguistic one. I think I'm clear, from everyone's helpful comments, that I've chosen the wrong verb. In English, I think we often say, "I assume that . . ." with a questioning inflection to mean "Can I assume that . . .", which gives the listener the ability to correct the questioner. That's the tone I was trying for -- not very well, it seems.

To me, the conversational question is the same as asking if she is young, but in a newspaper column where there is no possibility of immediate correction you are saying that you think she is young and are going to respond as if she were even though you - lorenzo9, Oct 27, 2010

can't be sure. This is what I tried to say in my post. . .also not very well it seems :) - lorenzo9, Oct 27, 2010

Answer 4

I don't know why you said this lorenzo.

I said it because asumir with que and the subjunctive makes no sense to me.

The particular question "I assume she is young?" means "Is she young?", so it would probably be better to just ask that instead.

In the clarifying comment to H's post, "I assume she is young?" means "If she is young (and I think she is). . .", which should be in the indicative.

As for assuming things without declaring things, people often base arguments that show that something doesn't exist on assuming that they do and deriving a contradiction or absurdity, and in these cases they are certainly not declaring that they believe the assumptions to be true. I don't know if the subjunctive is used in these cases or not.

Answer 5

¿Asumo que esté una adolescente?

First, you are using the wrong verb, as Lorenzo said. But in any case, If you avoid declaring that she is a teenager, why do you say you assume that? If you assume it, you want to declare it. And the same goes for "imaginar" and similar verbs.