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Conjugation Chart

“Colocar” (to place) in the Present Tense

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Understanding the Present Tense of “Colocar”

The Present Tense of colocar is used to describe actions happening in the present moment. For example, Yo coloco la mesa para la cena. (I set the table for dinner.)

Colocar is a regular -ar verb, which means its conjugations follow the typical pattern for verbs ending in -ar in the present tense.

How to Use Colocar in the Present Tense

Colocar generally means to put or place something somewhere, but has several different meanings in the Present Tense, some of which might surprise you.

To put or place: This is the most common meaning, for example, Coloco los libros en la mesa (I put the books on the table).

To position or arrange: This meaning is used when organizing or arranging things in a certain way, for example, Coloco las sillas alrededor de la mesa (I arrange the chairs around the table).

To locate or situate: This meaning refers to determining the location or position of something, for example, Coloco la ciudad en el mapa (I locate the city on the map).

To employ or hire (colloquial): In some informal contexts, it can mean to get someone a job or position, for example, Coloco a mi primo en la empresa (I get my cousin a job at the company).

To insert or introduce (colloquial): In informal speech, it can mean to introduce or insert something, often in a forceful or abrupt way, for example, Coloco mi opinión en la conversación (I insert my opinion into the conversation).

Real Life Examples of Colocar in the Present Tense

Yo coloco la mesa para la cena todas las noches. (I set the table for dinner every night.)

¿Dónde colocas tus llaves cuando llegas a casa? (Where do you put your keys when you get home?)

Ella coloca sus libros en el estante después de leerlos. (She puts her books back on the shelf after reading them.)

Nosotros colocamos las maletas en el portaequipaje del coche antes de salir de viaje. (We put the suitcases in the car’s trunk before leaving on a trip.)

Ellos colocan la basura en los contenedores correspondientes para reciclar. (They put the trash in the appropriate bins for recycling.)

En la oficina, coloco los documentos importantes en un lugar seguro. (At the office, I put important documents in a safe place.)

¿Colocas la ropa sucia en el cesto o la dejas tirada por ahí? (Do you put dirty clothes in the hamper or leave them lying around?)

Mamá coloca las flores frescas en un florero para decorar la sala. (Mom puts fresh flowers in a vase to decorate the living room.)

Colocamos las sillas alrededor de la mesa para la reunión familiar. (We put the chairs around the table for the family gathering.)

Los jardineros colocan las plantas en macetas para venderlas. (The gardeners put plants in pots to sell them.)

Antes de salir, coloco mi billetera y mis llaves en el bolso. (Before leaving, I put my wallet and keys in my purse.)

En la cocina, colocas los platos calientes sobre una servilleta para que no se dañe la mesa. (In the kitchen, you put hot plates on a napkin so the table doesn’t get damaged.)

El chef coloca la comida en platos atractivos para una mejor presentación. (The chef puts the food on attractive plates for a better presentation.)

Cuando vamos de camping, colocamos las tiendas de campaña en un área plana y seca. (When we go camping, we put the tents in a flat, dry area.)

Los niños colocan sus juguetes en la caja después de jugar. (The kids put their toys in the box after playing.)

Conjugation Chart with English Translations

Conjugations of Colocar (to place) in the Present Tense (Latin American Spanish) with English Translations:

This post covers Latin American Spanish. For Castilian Spanish, click here

Synonyms

The Present tense is also known as the Simple Present, Present Simple, Present Tense, or Present Indicative in English, and as Presente de Indicativo, Presente Simple, Tiempo Presente, or Indicativo Presente in Spanish.