Disponer Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb disponer means to arrange, to have available, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Disponer means to arrange or to have available, and it is used for having time or money available, arranging furniture and disposing of something. It follows the pattern of poner, with the present dispongo, the preterite dispuse and the irregular participle dispuesto. Like every Spanish verb, disponer changes its ending for each person and tense, and this page gives you the complete picture: every tense, every person, the gerund and the past participle, all from the verified conjugation tables. For example, in the present tense you say dispongo de poco tiempo libre, and in the preterite you say dispuse las sillas en el salón. Work through the tables below, read the notes for each tense, and then test yourself with the examples, the common mistakes and the quiz at the end of the page.
Quick facts
- Infinitive: disponer
- English: to arrange, to have available
- Verb type: irregular verb
- Ending: -er
- Gerund: disponiendo
- Past participle: dispuesto
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + dispuesto)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for disponer, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Disponer follows poner: the present is dispongo, the preterite is dispuse, and the participle is dispuesto.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for disponer. The imperfect subjunctive is shown in its -ra forms; the -se forms use the same stem. For reflexive verbs, the pronoun column shows the reflexive pronoun that goes before each form.
Present indicative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | dispongo |
| tú | dispones |
| él/ella/Ud. | dispone |
| nosotros/as | disponemos |
| vosotros/as | disponéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | disponen |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | dispuse |
| tú | dispusiste |
| él/ella/Ud. | dispuso |
| nosotros/as | dispusimos |
| vosotros/as | dispusisteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | dispusieron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | disponía |
| tú | disponías |
| él/ella/Ud. | disponía |
| nosotros/as | disponíamos |
| vosotros/as | disponíais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | disponían |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | dispondré |
| tú | dispondrás |
| él/ella/Ud. | dispondrá |
| nosotros/as | dispondremos |
| vosotros/as | dispondréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | dispondrán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | dispondría |
| tú | dispondrías |
| él/ella/Ud. | dispondría |
| nosotros/as | dispondríamos |
| vosotros/as | dispondríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | dispondrían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he dispuesto |
| tú | has dispuesto |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha dispuesto |
| nosotros/as | hemos dispuesto |
| vosotros/as | habéis dispuesto |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han dispuesto |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había dispuesto |
| tú | habías dispuesto |
| él/ella/Ud. | había dispuesto |
| nosotros/as | habíamos dispuesto |
| vosotros/as | habíais dispuesto |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían dispuesto |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré dispuesto |
| tú | habrás dispuesto |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá dispuesto |
| nosotros/as | habremos dispuesto |
| vosotros/as | habréis dispuesto |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán dispuesto |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría dispuesto |
| tú | habrías dispuesto |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría dispuesto |
| nosotros/as | habríamos dispuesto |
| vosotros/as | habríais dispuesto |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían dispuesto |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | disponga |
| tú | dispongas |
| él/ella/Ud. | disponga |
| nosotros/as | dispongamos |
| vosotros/as | dispongáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | dispongan |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | dispusiera |
| tú | dispusieras |
| él/ella/Ud. | dispusiera |
| nosotros/as | dispusiéramos |
| vosotros/as | dispusierais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | dispusieran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | dispón |
| él/ella/Ud. | disponga |
| nosotros/as | dispongamos |
| vosotros/as | disponed |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | dispongan |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | dispongas |
| él/ella/Ud. | disponga |
| nosotros/as | dispongamos |
| vosotros/as | dispongáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | dispongan |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | disponiendo | with estar for the progressive: estoy disponiendo |
| Past participle | dispuesto | with haber for the perfect tenses: he dispuesto |
How to use each tense
Present indicative
Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of poner, with a -g- in the present (as in compongo), a -s- stem in the preterite (as in compuse), and an irregular participle (as in compuesto). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For disponer, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Dispongo de poco tiempo libre. Learn the present forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Preterite
Use the preterite for finished actions with a clear end, often with ayer, el año pasado or anoche. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of poner, with a -g- in the present (as in compongo), a -s- stem in the preterite (as in compuse), and an irregular participle (as in compuesto). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For disponer, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, dispuse de dinero para el viaje. Learn the preterite forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperfect
Use the imperfect for background, habits and actions in progress in the past, often with de niño, antes or mientras. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For disponer, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, disponía las sillas en el salón. Learn the imperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Future
Use the future for plans, predictions and promises, often with mañana, el año que viene or pronto. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of poner, with a -g- in the present (as in compongo), a -s- stem in the preterite (as in compuse), and an irregular participle (as in compuesto). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For disponer, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, dispondré de una hora libre. Learn the future forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Conditional
Use the conditional for polite requests, hypotheticals and what would happen, often with si clauses. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of poner, with a -g- in the present (as in compongo), a -s- stem in the preterite (as in compuse), and an irregular participle (as in compuesto). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For disponer, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Dispondría de poco tiempo libre si pudiera. Learn the conditional forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Present perfect
Use the present perfect for recent actions and experiences, often with hoy, esta semana or ya. This tense is irregular for this verb only because the past participle is dispuesto, not the regular form — the auxiliary haber is completely regular. For disponer, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he dispuesto de dinero para el viaje. Learn the present perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Pluperfect
Use the pluperfect when one past action happened before another past action. This tense is irregular for this verb only because the past participle is dispuesto, not the regular form — the auxiliary haber is completely regular. For disponer, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había dispuesto las sillas en el salón antes de salir. Learn the pluperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Future perfect
Use the future perfect for something that will already be finished by a future time. This tense is irregular for this verb only because the past participle is dispuesto, not the regular form — the auxiliary haber is completely regular. For disponer, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré dispuesto de una hora libre. Learn the future perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Conditional perfect
Use the conditional perfect for what would have happened under different conditions. This tense is irregular for this verb only because the past participle is dispuesto, not the regular form — the auxiliary haber is completely regular. For disponer, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría dispuesto de poco tiempo libre con más tiempo. Learn the conditional perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Present subjunctive
Use the present subjunctive after expressions of wish, doubt, emotion and hope, such as espero que or quiero que. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of poner, with a -g- in the present (as in compongo), a -s- stem in the preterite (as in compuse), and an irregular participle (as in compuesto). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For disponer, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él disponga de dinero para el viaje. Learn the present subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
Use the imperfect subjunctive after past wishes and in si clauses about the past, and note the -ra forms shown here; the -se forms use the same stem. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of poner, with a -g- in the present (as in compongo), a -s- stem in the preterite (as in compuse), and an irregular participle (as in compuesto). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For disponer, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él dispusiera las sillas en el salón, todo cambiaría. Learn the imperfect subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperative (affirmative)
Use the affirmative imperative for direct commands, instructions and invitations. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of poner, with a -g- in the present (as in compongo), a -s- stem in the preterite (as in compuse), and an irregular participle (as in compuesto). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For disponer, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Dispón de una hora libre! Learn the affirmative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperative (negative)
Use the negative imperative, always with no, to tell someone not to do something. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of poner, with a -g- in the present (as in compongo), a -s- stem in the preterite (as in compuse), and an irregular participle (as in compuesto). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For disponer, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No dispongas de poco tiempo libre. Learn the negative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with disponer, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Dispongo de poco tiempo libre. — I arrange of little free time.
- Dispone de dinero para el viaje. — He/she arranges of money for the trip.
- Ayer, dispuse las sillas en el salón. — Yesterday, I arranged the chairs in the living room.
- Antes, nosotros disponíamos de una hora libre. — Before, we used to arrange of an hour free.
- Mañana, tú dispondrás de poco tiempo libre. — Tomorrow, you will arrange of little free time.
- Yo dispondría de dinero para el viaje si tuviera más tiempo. — I would arrange of money for the trip if I had more time.
- Él ha dispuesto las sillas en el salón. — He has arranged the chairs in the living room.
- Espero que él disponga de una hora libre. — I hope he arranges of an hour free.
- Yo ya había dispuesto de poco tiempo libre antes de salir. — I had already arranged of little free time before leaving.
- Ellos disponían de dinero para el viaje cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to arrange of money for the trip when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo dispone de poco tiempo libre. — Right: Yo dispongo de poco tiempo libre. — The person matters: dispone is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is dispongo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Ayer yo disponí de dinero para el viaje. — Right: Ayer yo dispuse de dinero para el viaje. — Disponer has an irregular preterite: the correct first-person form is dispuse, not the regular disponí. Learn the preterite forms in the table as a set.
- Wrong: Treating disponer and tener as identical in every context. — Right: Disponer means to arrange, to have available, while tener means to have. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: disponer fits sentences such as Dispongo de poco tiempo libre, while tener belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy dispuesto de dinero para el viaje. — Right: Yo he dispuesto de dinero para el viaje. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he dispuesto, has dispuesto, ha dispuesto. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo dispuse las sillas en el salón todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo disponía las sillas en el salón todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (disponía), not the preterite. The preterite (dispuse) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on disponer. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ de poco tiempo libre. (present tense) A. dispongo B. dispones C. dispone D. disponemos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ de dinero para el viaje. (preterite) A. dispuse B. dispusiste C. dispusieron D. dispuso
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ las sillas en el salón. (imperfect) A. disponías B. disponían C. disponíamos D. disponía
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ de una hora libre. (future) A. dispondremos B. dispondrás C. dispondré D. dispondrá
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ de poco tiempo libre si pudiera. (conditional) A. dispondría B. dispondrías C. dispondrían D. dispongo
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ de dinero para el viaje. (present subjunctive) A. dispongas B. dispongamos C. dispongo D. disponga
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ las sillas en el salón, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. dispusiéramos B. dispongo C. dispusiera D. dispusieras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ de una hora libre. (present perfect) A. han dispuesto B. hemos dispuesto C. he dispuesto D. has dispuesto
Complete the command: ¡___ de poco tiempo libre! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. dispón B. disponga C. dispongamos D. disponed
Which is the gerund of disponer, used with estar for the progressive? A. dispuesto B. dispongo C. dispuse D. disponiendo
Answer key
- dispongo — The first-person present of disponer is dispongo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- dispuso — The third-person preterite of disponer is dispuso, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- disponíamos — The nosotros imperfect of disponer is disponíamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- dispondrás — The second-person future of disponer is dispondrás.
- dispondría — The first-person conditional of disponer is dispondría, the form for what would happen.
- disponga — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of disponer is disponga.
- dispusiera — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of disponer is dispusiera.
- hemos dispuesto — The nosotros present perfect of disponer is hemos dispuesto: hemos + dispuesto.
- dispón — The affirmative tú imperative of disponer is dispón.
- disponiendo — The gerund of disponer is disponiendo: estoy disponiendo. The participle dispuesto is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does disponer mean in English?
Disponer means to arrange, to have available. It is used in everyday situations such as Dispongo de poco tiempo libre. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is disponer regular or irregular?
Disponer is irregular in present, preterite, future, conditional, present-subjunctive, imperfect-subjunctive, past-participle, present-perfect, pluperfect, future-perfect, conditional-perfect, imperative-affirmative, imperative-negative. The other tenses follow the regular pattern. Learn the irregular forms from the tables above rather than guessing them from the infinitive.
What is the difference between disponer and tener?
Disponer means to arrange, to have available, while tener means to have. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use disponer when you mean to arrange, to have available, as in Dispongo de poco tiempo libre, and use tener for to have. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I arrange” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo dispuse de dinero para el viaje. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo disponía las sillas en el salón. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he dispuesto de dinero para el viaje.
How do I practise disponer?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the disponer examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Disponer in the preterite tense — the full preterite-tense table for disponer.
- Disponer examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for disponer.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Complete list of Spanish irregular verbs — where this verb's pattern is listed.
- Componer conjugation — another -er verb to compare with disponer.
- Exponer conjugation — another -er verb to compare with disponer.
- Imponer conjugation — another -er verb to compare with disponer.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.