pusimos
/poo-SEE-mos/
we put
We put the box on the shelf. (Pusimos la caja en la estantería.)
pusimos(verb)
we put
?physical placement
,we placed
?physical placement
we set
?setting an object down
📝 In Action
Nosotros pusimos las llaves en la mesa anoche.
A1We put the keys on the table last night.
¿Dónde pusimos el libro de español?
A1Where did we put the Spanish book?
Después del picnic, pusimos la basura en el contenedor.
A2After the picnic, we put the trash in the container.
💡 Grammar Points
Irregular Preterite Stem
The simple past form of 'poner' is highly irregular. Instead of using the 'pon-' stem, it changes completely to 'pus-'. This is a common pattern for many essential Spanish verbs.
Completed Action
'Pusimos' describes a single action we started and finished completely in the past, like placing an object down once.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Preterite and Imperfect
Mistake: "Usando 'poníamos' para decir 'we put (once)'"
Correction: Use 'pusimos' (preterite) for a specific, completed action. 'Poníamos' (imperfect) means 'we used to put' or 'we were putting'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Remember the 'U'
To remember the irregular stem, think 'Poner' has an 'O' but the past tense 'Pusimos' has a 'U'. This helps distinguish it from the regular imperfect tense 'poníamos'.
We established the rules. (Pusimos las reglas.)
pusimos(verb)
we established
?rules, limits, conditions
,we set
?a price, a date, a time
we scheduled
?an appointment
📝 In Action
Para el proyecto, pusimos límites claros desde el principio.
B1For the project, we established clear limits from the beginning.
Pusimos la fecha de la reunión para el próximo martes.
B1We set the date of the meeting for next Tuesday.
Los dueños pusimos un precio justo para vender la casa.
B2The owners (we) set a fair price to sell the house.
💡 Grammar Points
Action vs. Result
When using 'pusimos' in this context, we emphasize the action of setting the rule or date, not the state of it being set (which would often use 'estaba puesto').
⭐ Usage Tips
Using 'Poner' for Decisions
'Poner' is a versatile verb. Think of it as 'placing' a decision onto the calendar or 'placing' a boundary around a situation.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: pusimos
Question 1 of 2
Which verb form would you use if you wanted to say 'We were putting the groceries away (when the phone rang)'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'pusimos' so different from the base verb 'poner'?
'Pusimos' belongs to a group of highly irregular verbs in Spanish (like 'tener' and 'venir') that change their stem completely in the simple past (preterite). Poner's stem changes from 'pon-' to 'pus-' to make the past tense stronger and easier to say quickly.
Is 'pusimos' the same as 'nos pusimos'?
No. 'Pusimos' means 'we put' (something else). 'Nos pusimos' is the reflexive form, meaning 'we put ourselves' or, more commonly, 'we put on' (clothing) or 'we became' (an emotion, like 'nos pusimos tristes'—we became sad).