The Present Subjunctive of poner is used to express desires, doubts, or uncertainties about putting or placing something, for example: Espero que pongas la mesa para la cena. (I hope you set the table for dinner.)

Poner is an irregular verb in the Present Subjunctive, meaning its conjugations do not follow the typical patterns of regular verbs.

Conjugations

Conjugations of Poner (to put) in the Subjunctive Mood tense (Latin American Spanish):

The present subjunctive of poner is used to express wishes, desires, demands, or uncertainty about an action or state.

To express a wish or desire: For example, Ojalá que pongas más atención en clase. (I wish you would pay more attention in class.)

To express a demand or request: For example, Es necesario que pongas los platos en el fregadero. (It’s necessary that you put the dishes in the sink.)

To express uncertainty or doubt: For example, Dudo que pongan suficiente esfuerzo en el proyecto. (I doubt they will put enough effort into the project.)

To set a condition: For example, Si pongo más empeño, aprobaré el examen. (If I put more effort in, I will pass the exam.)

Idiomatic usage: For example, ¡Ponle! ¡Tú puedes! (Go for it! You can do it! – literally “Put it on!”)

Slang/Rude usage: For example, ¡Pónganse a trabajar, vagos! (Get to work, you lazy bums! – literally “Put yourselves to work”)

Examples

Examples of Poner in the Subjunctive Mood

Espero que pongamos más atención a los problemas ambientales. (I hope we pay more attention to environmental issues.)

Es importante que pongas tus prioridades en orden. (It’s important that you put your priorities in order.)

Aunque no estoy de acuerdo, respeto que pongas tus creencias por encima de todo. (Although I don’t agree, I respect that you put your beliefs above everything else.)

Ojalá ponga más empeño en sus estudios. (I hope he puts more effort into his studies.)

Para tener éxito, es crucial que pongas pasión en lo que haces. (To be successful, it’s crucial that you put passion into what you do.)

Sugiero que pongamos un límite de tiempo para esta actividad. (I suggest we put a time limit on this activity.)

Aunque no lo creas, mi mamá insiste en que ponga sal en todo. (Although you may not believe it, my mom insists that I put salt on everything.)

Es fundamental que pongan más esfuerzo en mantener limpio el vecindario. (It’s essential that they put more effort into keeping the neighborhood clean.)

Ojalá pongamos fin a esta discusión sin sentido. (I hope we put an end to this pointless discussion.)

Para evitar malentendidos, es mejor que pongas tus ideas por escrito. (To avoid misunderstandings, it’s better that you put your ideas in writing.)

Aunque cueste trabajo, es importante que pongamos nuestras diferencias a un lado. (Although it’s difficult, it’s important that we put our differences aside.)

Quiero que pongas todo tu empeño en este proyecto. (I want you to put all your effort into this project.)

Ojalá pongan más atención a las necesidades de la comunidad. (I hope they pay more attention to the needs of the community.)

Es crucial que pongamos en práctica lo que hemos aprendido. (It’s crucial that we put into practice what we have learned.)

Aunque sea difícil, es importante que pongas tus metas por encima de tus miedos. (Although it’s difficult, it’s important that you put your goals above your fears.)

Conjugations with English Translations

Conjugations of Poner (to put) in the Subjunctive Mood tense (Latin American Spanish) with English Translations:

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

Synonyms

The Subjunctive mood is also known as the Simple Subjunctive, Subjunctive Present, or Present Subjunctive Mood in English, and as Presente de Subjuntivo, Subjuntivo Presente, Presente del Modo Subjuntivo, or Tiempo Presente del Subjuntivo in Spanish.