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Poner Preterite Practice

Poner (to put, to place) in the preterite: 14 free exercises with an explanation after every answer, plus the full conjugation table.

14 exercisesIrregularA1 – A2 level
IWhat to watch for

In the preterite, poner swaps its stem for pus- and takes the special strong endings with no accent marks: puse, pusiste, puso, pusimos, pusieron. If you write 'ponié' or put an accent on puse, the irregular stem has slipped away from you.

The other classic trap is choosing puse when the sentence describes a past habit — that job belongs to the imperfect ponía. Watch for completed-event markers like ayer, anoche and de repente: they are your green light for the pus- forms.

IIConjugation
ponerPreterite
yo
puse
pusiste
él / ella / usted
puso
nosotros
pusimos
vosotros
pusisteis
ellos / ustedes
pusieron
Irregular yo (pongo), strong preterite stem pus-, future stem pondr-.
IIIPractice exercises

Practice.

Answer first, then read the explanation. Don't skip it — that's the whole point.

Exercise 01 of 14Tag: Irregular stem
Fill in the blank

Anoche yo _____ tu regalo encima del refrigerador para esconderlo. (poner)

Last night I put your gift on top of the refrigerator to hide it.

Exercise 02 of 14Tag: Tú form
Fill in the blank

¿Dónde _____ los boletos del concierto, Camila? Los necesitamos ya. (poner)

Where did you put the concert tickets, Camila? We need them now.

Exercise 03 of 14Tag: Tense contrast
Fill in the blank

Valentina _____ la mesa mientras su papá terminaba la sopa. (poner)

Valentina set the table while her dad was finishing the soup.

Exercise 04 of 14Tag: Irregular stem
Fill in the blank

Esta mañana yo le _____ gasolina al carro antes de salir. (poner)

This morning I put gas in the car before leaving.

Exercise 05 of 14Tag: Nosotros form
Fill in the blank

El sábado pasado nosotros _____ un puesto de jugos en la feria. (poner)

Last Saturday we set up a juice stand at the fair.

Exercise 06 of 14Tag: Ellos form
Fill in the blank

Los organizadores _____ sillas extra porque llegó muchísima gente. (poner)

The organizers put out extra chairs because a huge crowd arrived.

Exercise 07 of 14Tag: Tú form
Fill in the blank

_____ demasiado picante en la salsa y nadie pudo comerla. (poner)

You put too much chili in the salsa and nobody could eat it.

Exercise 08 of 14Tag: Irregular stem
Fill in the blank

De repente el maestro _____ una canción y todos empezaron a bailar. (poner)

Suddenly the teacher put on a song and everyone started dancing.

Exercise 09 of 14Tag: Irregular stem
Fill in the blank

Ayer yo _____ todos los documentos en una carpeta azul. (poner)

Yesterday I put all the documents in a blue folder.

Exercise 10 of 14Tag: Nosotros form
Fill in the blank

Anoche mi esposo y yo _____ la película que tanto querías ver. (poner)

Last night my husband and I put on the movie you wanted to see so much.

Exercise 11 of 14Tag: Ellos form
Fill in the blank

El año pasado mis tíos _____ un restaurante de mariscos en Veracruz. (poner)

Last year my aunt and uncle opened a seafood restaurant in Veracruz.

Exercise 12 of 14Tag: Tú form
Fill in the blank

¿Ya le _____ nombre al cachorro que adoptaste el domingo? (poner)

Have you already named the puppy you adopted on Sunday?

Exercise 13 of 14Tag: Irregular stem
Fill in the blank

El técnico _____ el aire acondicionado nuevo en una sola tarde. (poner)

The technician installed the new air conditioner in a single afternoon.

Exercise 14 of 14Tag: Ellos form
Fill in the blank

Mis compañeros _____ mucha atención durante la charla de seguridad. (poner)

My classmates paid close attention during the safety talk.

Every answer is explained

Not just a green check. A short paragraph telling you why.

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