pusiste
/poo-SEES-teh/
you put
Showing the physical action of placement: 'you put' the block on the shelf.
pusiste(verb)
you put
?physical placement
,you placed
?physical placement
you set
?an object down
📝 In Action
¿Dónde pusiste mi libro de español anoche?
A1Where did you put my Spanish book last night?
Tú pusiste la mesa antes de que llegaran los invitados.
A2You set the table before the guests arrived.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Poner' Preterite Irregularity
The verb 'poner' (to put) is highly irregular in the simple past (preterite). Instead of 'poní' or 'ponió,' it uses the special root 'pus-' and has unique endings.
Focus on Completed Action
'Pusiste' describes an action that started and finished completely in the past, like placing an item down one time: 'Yesterday, you put the box here.'
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Preterite and Imperfect
Mistake: "Usando 'ponías' cuando la acción fue terminada."
Correction: Use 'pusiste' (simple past) for a specific, completed action. 'Ponías' (imperfect) means 'you used to put' or 'you were putting.'
⭐ Usage Tips
Pronunciation Check
Remember the stress falls on the second syllable: pu-SIS-teh. This is typical for the 'tú' form in the preterite tense.
Illustrating activation: 'you turned on' the music.
pusiste(verb)
you turned on
?radio, TV, music
,you started playing
?music, video
you switched on
?a device
📝 In Action
¿Por qué no pusiste música cuando estábamos cenando?
A2Why didn't you put on (start) music when we were eating dinner?
Tú pusiste el noticiero tan pronto llegaste a casa.
B1You turned on the news as soon as you got home.
💡 Grammar Points
Turning Things On
In Spanish, we often use 'poner' when we start playing a piece of media (music, a movie, the news), similar to saying 'put it on' in English.
Depicting getting dressed: 'you put on' the scarf.
pusiste(verb)
you put on
?clothing or accessories (reflexive)
you wore
?for a specific event
📝 In Action
Te pusiste el traje de baño apenas llegaste a la playa.
A2You put on your swimsuit as soon as you arrived at the beach.
Para la fiesta, te pusiste un vestido muy elegante.
B1For the party, you put on a very elegant dress.
💡 Grammar Points
Reflexive Use: 'Ponerse'
When talking about putting clothing on yourself, the verb 'poner' changes to 'ponerse' (to put on oneself). In this case, 'te pusiste' means 'you put on (yourself).'
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Reflexive Pronoun
Mistake: "Decir 'Tú pusiste el abrigo' (You put the coat somewhere)."
Correction: To mean 'You put the coat on yourself,' you must include the pronoun: 'Tú TE pusiste el abrigo.'
Representing the establishment of a limit: 'you set' the condition.
pusiste(verb)
you set
?a rule, condition, or deadline
,you established
?a precedent or framework
you assigned
?a task or responsibility
📝 In Action
¿Qué condiciones pusiste para aceptar el nuevo trabajo?
B2What conditions did you set in order to accept the new job?
Tú pusiste el ejemplo de cómo se debe trabajar en equipo.
B1You set the example of how one should work as a team.
💡 Grammar Points
Abstract Use of 'Poner'
'Poner' can be used abstractly, meaning to create or establish something non-physical, like a rule, a boundary, or a mood.
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Contexts
While 'fijar' or 'establecer' are also common for setting rules, 'poner' is often the simplest and most direct choice, even in formal speech.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: pusiste
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'pusiste' to mean 'You put on clothes'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'pusiste' so different from the infinitive 'poner'?
'Poner' is one of the most common irregular verbs in Spanish. In the simple past (preterite), it completely changes its root from 'pon-' to 'pus-'. This is a historical pattern that makes the verb stronger and easier to say quickly.
Can I use 'pusiste' to ask someone to place something right now?
No. 'Pusiste' means 'you placed' (in the past). To ask someone to place something now or in the future, you would use the imperative or present tense, such as 'Ponlo aquí' (Put it here).