Quick answer
poner · pongo, pones, pone, ponemos, ponéis, ponen
to put. Irregular — the forms below are worth learning as a block.
Conjugation
| Person | Present | Preterite | Imperfect | Future |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | pongo | puse | ponía | pondré |
| tú | pones | pusiste | ponías | pondrás |
| él / ella / usted | pone | puso | ponía | pondrá |
| nosotros | ponemos | pusimos | poníamos | pondremos |
| vosotros | ponéis | pusisteis | poníais | pondréis |
| ellos / ustedes | ponen | pusieron | ponían | pondrán |
Orange marks a form you cannot guess from the rules.
| Non-finite | Form |
|---|---|
| gerund | poniendo |
| past participle | puesto |
| imperative (tú) | pon |
| subjunctive (yo) | ponga |
Which form to learn first
pongo and ponte. Putting things down and putting clothes on cover most of daily life.
Where you will actually use it
Pon la mesa.Set the table.
Ponte el abrigo.Put your coat on.
Me pongo nervioso.I get nervous. — ponerse = to become.
¿Me pones una caña?Can I get a beer? — in a bar.
Poner la teleto turn the TV on
Typical mistakes
Yo pono
Yo pongo
The yo form adds a g, like tengo and hago.
Me pongo triste = I am sad
Me pongo triste = I get sad
ponerse is the change, estar is the state.
Check yourself
¿Me ___ un café, por favor?