Poner means "to put" or "to place" in English, but it is also used in many other contexts such as "to turn on" (an appliance), "to set" (a table), or even "to start" (a situation). It is one of the most common irregular verbs in Spanish and appears frequently in both written and spoken language.
- Meaning: to put, to place, to set, to turn on, to start
- Origin: Latin ponere, meaning "to place"
- Key Usage: used for physical placement, starting appliances, setting scenes, and in many idiomatic expressions
- Irregularity: irregular in stem (pon-) and in certain endings, especially in preterite, subjunctive, and imperative moods
- Example: Pongo la mesa. (I set the table.)
Usage
Physical Placement
Poner is used to indicate placing or putting something somewhere.
- Pon los libros en la mesa.* (Put the books on the table.)
- Pongo el cuadro en la pared.* (I put the picture on the wall.)
- Pon tu abrigo aquí.* (Put your coat here.)
Turning On/Starting
Poner is often used when referring to turning on appliances or starting something.
- Pon la radio, por favor.* (Turn on the radio, please.)
- Pongo la televisión a las ocho.* (I turn on the TV at eight.)
- Pon la luz.* (Turn on the light.)
Turn on the radio, please.
Pon la radio, por favor.
"Pon la radio, por favor." means "Turn on the radio, please." 'Poner' is commonly used for starting appliances.
Setting or Preparing
It can also mean to set or prepare something, such as a table or a scene.
- Pon la mesa para la cena.* (Set the table for dinner.)
- Poner una excusa* (to make up an excuse)
- Poner atención* (to pay attention)
Other Common Expressions
Poner appears in many idiomatic phrases that are useful to know:
- poner en marcha* — to start up (a machine, a project)
- poner de acuerdo* — to bring to an agreement
- ponerse + emotion/state — to become (e.g., Me pongo nervioso.* = I get nervous.)
- poner fin a* — to put an end to
- poner rumbo a* — to head towards
Conjugation
Below are the key conjugations of poner in several important tenses. Note the irregular forms and stem changes.
Present Indicative
- Use the stem pon-
- First person singular ends in -go (pongo)
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo pongo | nosotros ponemos | I put | we put |
| tú pones | vosotros ponéis | you put | you (pl.) put |
| él/ella pone | ellos/ellas ponen | he/she puts | they put |
Preterite (Simple Past)
- Use stem pus-
- Irregular endings (no accents)
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo puse | nosotros pusimos | I put | we put |
| tú pusiste | vosotros pusisteis | you put | you (pl.) put |
| él/ella puso | ellos/ellas pusieron | he/she put | they put |
Imperfect (Past Habitual)
- Regular -er/-ir endings with stem *pon-
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo ponía | nosotros poníamos | I used to put | we used to put |
| tú ponías | vosotros poníais | you used to put | you (pl.) used to put |
| él/ella ponía | ellos/ellas ponían | he/she used to put | they used to put |
"I used to put my toys away every day."
Ponía mis juguetes todos los días. (yo, poner)
'Ponía' is the imperfect first person singular, used for habitual past actions.
Future
- Add regular future endings to infinitive *poner
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo pondré | nosotros pondremos | I will put | we will put |
| tú pondrás | vosotros pondréis | you will put | you (pl.) will put |
| él/ella pondrá | ellos/ellas pondrán | he/she will put | they will put |
Present Subjunctive
- Stem changes to pong- (from poner)
- Use regular subjunctive endings
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo ponga | nosotros pongamos | I put | we put |
| tú pongas | vosotros pongáis | you put | you (pl.) put |
| él/ella ponga | ellos/ellas pongan | he/she put | they put |
Imperative (Commands)
- Affirmative commands use subjunctive forms.
- Negative commands use no + present subjunctive.
| Affirmative (Sing./Pl.) | Negative (Sing./Pl.) | English Example |
|---|---|---|
| pon / poned | no pongas / no pongáis | Put / Don't put |
Examples:
- ¡Pon la mesa!* (Set the table!)
- No pongas eso ahí.* (Don’t put that there.)
Set the table!
¡Pon la mesa! (tú, poner)
"¡Pon la mesa!" is the affirmative tú command form of poner.
Tips
Memorize Irregular Forms
Focus on key irregular forms that appear frequently, especially:
- pongo* (present yo)
- pus-* stem in preterite forms (puse, puso, pusieron)
- pong-* stem in subjunctive forms (ponga, pongamos)
Learn Common Expressions
Learn the common phrases and idioms with poner as whole units. For example:
- poner atención* (pay attention)
- ponerse + adjective* (become + emotion/condition)
- poner en marcha* (start up)
Which expression means "pay attention"?
poner atención
"Poner atención" is the correct expression for "pay attention."
Use Contextual Clues
The meaning of poner depends heavily on context. Pay attention to objects and nouns following the verb to understand its specific use.
- Pon la música.* (Turn on the music.)
- Pon la mesa.* (Set the table.)
- Pongo mis ideas en el papel.* (I put my ideas on paper.)
Practice with Variation
Try using poner in different scenarios: physical placement, activating devices, preparing, and idiomatic expressions. This will build flexibility and confidence.
- Physical: *pone la carta en el sobre
- Appliance: *pon la cafetera
- Preparation: *pon la comida en la mesa
- Idiom: *pon atención en clase
Summary
Poner is a versatile and irregular Spanish verb meaning "to put," "to place," and more. It is irregular in key forms such as pongo, the preterite stem pus-, and subjunctive stem pong-. Poner also appears in many useful idiomatic expressions, making it an essential verb for intermediate and advanced Spanish learners.
Which forms of poner are irregular and should be memorized?
pongo, puse, puso, pusieron, ponga, pongamos
These forms represent the major irregular patterns across tenses and moods.
Flashcards (1 of 16)
- English Singular: I put
- English Plural: we put
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
