Conjugate poner in the preterite tense in Spanish (El Pretérito Indefinido)

Written by qualified Spanish expert Ana Matilla MA, BA
Last updated: 2022-12-21
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Poner and its derivatives, like componer, disponer or proponer are irregular verbs in El Pretérito Indefinido in Spanish. They all follow the same pattern.

How to conjugate "poner" in El Pretérito Indefinido in Spanish

yo puse
tú pusiste
él / ella / Ud. puso
nosotros / nosotras  pusimos
vosotros / vosotras pusisteis
ellos / ellas / Uds.  pusieron
Now listen to these examples:

Yo puse la mesa.I set the table.

¿Dispusiste todo para recibir a tus invitados?Did you arrange everything to receive your guests? [you=tú]

¿Tú propusiste ir al cine?Did you propose going to the cinema?

Este cuadro se compuso a base de diferentes figuras geometricas.This painting was composed of different geometric figures.

Rossini compuso el Barbero de Sevilla.Rossini composed the Barber of Seville.

Nosotros propusimos un nuevo candidato para ese trabajo.We proposed a new candidate for that job.

Vosotros pusisteis la televisión encima de la mesa.You put the television on the table.

¿Vosotras compusisteis esa canción?Did you compose that song?

Ellos no dispusieron de mucho tiempo para hacer el examen.They did not have much time to take the exam.

¿Ustedes compusieron esa canción?Did you compose that song?

Verbs that follow this pattern are:

  • poner (to put)
  • componer (to form / to compose)
  • disponer (to get/  to arrange)
  • proponer (to suggest/ to propose)
  • exponer (to exhibit, to express)

Poner and its derivatives belong to a group of verbs that all have an irregular stem but share the same set of endings. See Irregulares en Indefinido/mismas terminaciones.

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Examples and resources

Nosotros propusimos un nuevo candidato para ese trabajo.We proposed a new candidate for that job.
Rossini compuso el Barbero de Sevilla.Rossini composed the Barber of Seville.
Vosotros pusisteis la televisión encima de la mesa.You put the television on the table.
¿Ustedes compusieron esa canción?Did you compose that song?
¿Dispusiste todo para recibir a tus invitados?Did you arrange everything to receive your guests? [you=tú]
Todos expusieron sus ideas en la clase de arte.They all expressed their ideas in the art class.
Yo puse la mesa.I set the table.
Este cuadro se compuso a base de diferentes figuras geometricas.This painting was composed of different geometric figures.
¿Vosotras compusisteis esa canción?Did you compose that song?
Ellos no dispusieron de mucho tiempo para hacer el examen.They did not have much time to take the exam.
¿Tú propusiste ir al cine?Did you propose going to the cinema?
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