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

Poner is an irregular verb, meaning its conjugations don’t follow the standard patterns of regular verbs.

Conjugations

Conjugations of Poner (to put) in the Present Tense tense (Castilian Spanish):

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

To put or place: For example, Yo pongo el libro en la mesa. (I put the book on the table.)

To start or begin: For example, Ponemos el programa a las 8. (We start the program at 8.)

To add an ingredient: For example, Pones sal y pimienta a la comida. (You add salt and pepper to the food.)

To write or inscribe: For example, Pongo mi nombre en el papel. (I write my name on the paper.)

To make or cause (a state): For example, Me pones nervioso. (You make me nervous.)

Slang: To have sex: For example, ¿Ponemos esta noche? (Shall we have sex tonight?)

Examples

Examples of Poner in the Present Tense

Siempre pongo mucha atención cuando mi jefe habla. (I always pay close attention when my boss speaks.)

Mi hermana pone la mesa para la cena todas las noches. (My sister sets the table for dinner every night.)

¿Ponemos un poco de música mientras cocinamos? (Shall we put on some music while we cook?)

Mis amigos ponen mucho esfuerzo en sus estudios. (My friends put a lot of effort into their studies.)

En la oficina, ponemos énfasis en el trabajo en equipo. (At the office, we emphasize teamwork.)

Ella siempre pone una sonrisa en mi rostro. (She always puts a smile on my face.)

¿Ponéis la ropa sucia en el cesto de la lavandería? (Do you put the dirty clothes in the laundry basket?)

Los niños ponen mucha energía en sus juegos. (The children put a lot of energy into their games.)

Cuando viajo, pongo mis pertenencias en una maleta pequeña. (When I travel, I put my belongings in a small suitcase.)

En la fiesta, ponemos música bailable para animar el ambiente. (At the party, we put on dance music to liven up the atmosphere.)

Mis padres ponen mucho esfuerzo en criar a sus hijos. (My parents put a lot of effort into raising their children.)

¿Pones azúcar en tu café por la mañana? (Do you put sugar in your coffee in the morning?)

Los atletas ponen todo su empeño en cada competencia. (The athletes put all their effort into every competition.)

En la clase de arte, ponemos mucha creatividad en nuestros proyectos. (In art class, we put a lot of creativity into our projects.)

Cuando salgo de viaje, pongo mi casa a buen recaudo. (When I go on a trip, I secure my house properly.)

Conjugations with English Translations

Conjugations of Poner (to put) in the Present Tense tense (Castilian Spanish) with English Translations:

This post covers Castilian Spanish. For Latin American 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.