ponerse
/poh-NER-seh/
to put on
Ponerse can mean 'to put on' clothing, accessories, or makeup.
ponerse(verb)
to put on
?clothing, accessories, or makeup
to slip into
?a piece of clothing
📝 In Action
Me voy a poner el sombrero antes de salir.
A1I'm going to put on the hat before leaving.
¿Por qué no te pones la bufanda? Hace frío.
A2Why don't you put on the scarf? It's cold.
💡 Grammar Points
Reflexive Action
Since this is a reflexive verb, the action affects the person doing it. The little word 'se' changes to match the person: 'me' (I), 'te' (you), 'nos' (we), etc.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'Poner' and 'Ponerse'
Mistake: "Pongo la camisa. (I put the shirt (somewhere).)"
Correction: Me pongo la camisa. (I put the shirt on myself.) 'Poner' means to place something; 'ponerse' means to place something on yourself.
⭐ Usage Tips
Focus on the Moment
'Ponerse' describes the action of getting dressed, while 'llevar' or 'tener puesto' describe the state of already wearing the clothes.
When used reflexively, ponerse can mean 'to become' or change state, such as becoming sad, happy, or nervous.
ponerse(verb)
to become
?state or emotion (e.g., sad, happy, nervous)
,to get
?state or emotion (e.g., mad, tired)
to turn
?color change (e.g., red, pale)
📝 In Action
Cuando escuchó la noticia, se puso muy triste.
A2When she heard the news, she became very sad.
Siempre me pongo nervioso antes de un examen.
A2I always get nervous before an exam.
Mi hermano se puso enfermo después de la fiesta.
B1My brother got sick after the party.
💡 Grammar Points
Change of State
Use 'ponerse' to talk about sudden or temporary changes in feelings or physical condition, like getting happy, tired, or angry.
Followed by Adjectives
This meaning of 'ponerse' is always followed by an adjective describing the new state (e.g., 'triste', 'contento', 'pálido').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'Ser' and 'Estar' changes
Mistake: "Me estoy triste (I am sad, using 'estar' incorrectly for a change)."
Correction: Me pongo triste (I am becoming sad). 'Ponerse' signals the transition *into* the state, which is often expressed with 'estar' once the change is complete.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use for Appearance
You can use 'ponerse' for physical changes like turning red from embarrassment or pale from fear.
Ponerse is used to describe the action of the sun or a star 'setting' below the horizon.
📝 In Action
El sol se pone detrás de las montañas a las ocho.
B1The sun sets behind the mountains at eight o'clock.
Vimos cómo se ponía el sol en la playa.
B1We watched the sun set on the beach.
💡 Grammar Points
Impersonal Use
When talking about the sun, 'ponerse' is almost always used in the third person singular ('se pone').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Bajar'
Mistake: "El sol baja. (The sun goes down.)"
Correction: El sol se pone. While understandable, 'bajar' is generally used for physical objects moving down; 'ponerse' is the standard term for sunset.
⭐ Usage Tips
Related Noun
The noun form for 'sunset' is 'la puesta del sol,' literally 'the putting of the sun,' which helps explain the verb's origin.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: ponerse
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'ponerse' to describe an emotional change?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'poner' and 'ponerse'?
'Poner' means to place or put an object somewhere (e.g., 'I put the book on the table'). 'Ponerse' is reflexive, meaning the action comes back to the subject. It means either 'to put something on oneself' (like clothes) or 'to put oneself into a state' (like becoming sad or sick).
When should I use 'ponerse' instead of 'hacerse' or 'volverse' to mean 'to become'?
'Ponerse' is best for quick, temporary, or sudden changes (especially moods and feelings). 'Volverse' is for more permanent or profound changes (like changing personality). 'Hacerse' is for changes achieved through effort or time (like becoming a doctor).