Exponer Conjugation in Spanish

The Spanish verb exponer means to expose, to exhibit, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Exponer means to expose or to exhibit, and it covers exhibiting paintings, exposing a problem and exposing your skin to the sun. It follows the pattern of poner, with the present expongo, the preterite expuse and the irregular participle expuesto. Like every Spanish verb, exponer 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 expongo sus cuadros en la galería, and in the preterite you say expuse la piel al sol. 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: exponer
  • English: to expose, to exhibit
  • Verb type: irregular verb
  • Ending: -er
  • Gerund: exponiendo
  • Past participle: expuesto
  • Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + expuesto)

Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for exponer, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Exponer follows poner: the present is expongo, the preterite is expuse, and the participle is expuesto.

Full conjugation tables

Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for exponer. 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 expongo
tú expones
él/ella/Ud. expone
nosotros/as exponemos
vosotros/as exponéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. exponen

Preterite

Person Form
yo expuse
tú expusiste
él/ella/Ud. expuso
nosotros/as expusimos
vosotros/as expusisteis
ellos/ellas/Uds. expusieron

Imperfect

Person Form
yo exponía
tú exponías
él/ella/Ud. exponía
nosotros/as exponíamos
vosotros/as exponíais
ellos/ellas/Uds. exponían

Future

Person Form
yo expondré
tú expondrás
él/ella/Ud. expondrá
nosotros/as expondremos
vosotros/as expondréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. expondrán

Conditional

Person Form
yo expondría
tú expondrías
él/ella/Ud. expondría
nosotros/as expondríamos
vosotros/as expondríais
ellos/ellas/Uds. expondrían

Present perfect

Person Form
yo he expuesto
tú has expuesto
él/ella/Ud. ha expuesto
nosotros/as hemos expuesto
vosotros/as habéis expuesto
ellos/ellas/Uds. han expuesto

Pluperfect

Person Form
yo había expuesto
tú habías expuesto
él/ella/Ud. había expuesto
nosotros/as habíamos expuesto
vosotros/as habíais expuesto
ellos/ellas/Uds. habían expuesto

Future perfect

Person Form
yo habré expuesto
tú habrás expuesto
él/ella/Ud. habrá expuesto
nosotros/as habremos expuesto
vosotros/as habréis expuesto
ellos/ellas/Uds. habrán expuesto

Conditional perfect

Person Form
yo habría expuesto
tú habrías expuesto
él/ella/Ud. habría expuesto
nosotros/as habríamos expuesto
vosotros/as habríais expuesto
ellos/ellas/Uds. habrían expuesto

Present subjunctive

Person Form
yo exponga
tú expongas
él/ella/Ud. exponga
nosotros/as expongamos
vosotros/as expongáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. expongan

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Person Form
yo expusiera
tú expusieras
él/ella/Ud. expusiera
nosotros/as expusiéramos
vosotros/as expusierais
ellos/ellas/Uds. expusieran

Imperative (affirmative)

Person Form
tú expón
él/ella/Ud. exponga
nosotros/as expongamos
vosotros/as exponed
ellos/ellas/Uds. expongan

Imperative (negative)

Person Form
tú expongas
él/ella/Ud. exponga
nosotros/as expongamos
vosotros/as expongáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. expongan

Gerund and past participle

Form Spanish Use
Gerund exponiendo with estar for the progressive: estoy exponiendo
Past participle expuesto with haber for the perfect tenses: he expuesto

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 exponer, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Expongo sus cuadros en la galería. 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 exponer, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, expuse el problema en la reunión. 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 exponer, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, exponía la piel al sol. 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 exponer, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, expondré sus ideas con claridad. 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 exponer, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Expondría sus cuadros en la galería 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 expuesto, not the regular form — the auxiliary haber is completely regular. For exponer, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he expuesto el problema en la reunión. 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 expuesto, not the regular form — the auxiliary haber is completely regular. For exponer, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había expuesto la piel al sol 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 expuesto, not the regular form — the auxiliary haber is completely regular. For exponer, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré expuesto sus ideas con claridad. 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 expuesto, not the regular form — the auxiliary haber is completely regular. For exponer, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría expuesto sus cuadros en la galería 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 exponer, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él exponga el problema en la reunión. 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 exponer, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él expusiera la piel al sol, 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 exponer, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Expón sus ideas con claridad! 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 exponer, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No expongas sus cuadros en la galería. 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 exponer, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.

  1. Expongo sus cuadros en la galería. — I expose his pictures in the gallery.
  2. Expone el problema en la reunión. — He/she exposes the problem in the meeting.
  3. Ayer, expuse la piel al sol. — Yesterday, I exposed my skin to the sun.
  4. Antes, nosotros exponíamos sus ideas con claridad. — Before, we used to expose his ideas clearly.
  5. Mañana, tú expondrás sus cuadros en la galería. — Tomorrow, you will expose his pictures in the gallery.
  6. Yo expondría el problema en la reunión si tuviera más tiempo. — I would expose the problem in the meeting if I had more time.
  7. Él ha expuesto la piel al sol. — He has exposed my skin to the sun.
  8. Espero que él exponga sus ideas con claridad. — I hope he exposes his ideas clearly.
  9. Yo ya había expuesto sus cuadros en la galería antes de salir. — I had already exposed his pictures in the gallery before leaving.
  10. Ellos exponían el problema en la reunión cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to expose the problem in the meeting when they were young.

Common mistakes

  1. Wrong: Yo expone sus cuadros en la galería. — Right: Yo expongo sus cuadros en la galería. — The person matters: expone is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is expongo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
  2. Wrong: Ayer yo exponí el problema en la reunión. — Right: Ayer yo expuse el problema en la reunión. — Exponer has an irregular preterite: the correct first-person form is expuse, not the regular exponí. Learn the preterite forms in the table as a set.
  3. Wrong: Treating exponer and mostrar as identical in every context. — Right: Exponer means to expose, to exhibit, while mostrar means to show. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: exponer fits sentences such as Expongo sus cuadros en la galería, while mostrar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
  4. Wrong: Yo soy expuesto el problema en la reunión. — Right: Yo he expuesto el problema en la reunión. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he expuesto, has expuesto, ha expuesto. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
  5. Wrong: De niño, yo expuse la piel al sol todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo exponía la piel al sol todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (exponía), not the preterite. The preterite (expuse) is for one finished action.

Quiz: test yourself

Ten questions on exponer. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.

  1. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ sus cuadros en la galería. (present tense) A. expongo B. expones C. expone D. exponemos

  2. Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ el problema en la reunión. (preterite) A. expuse B. expusiste C. expusieron D. expuso

  3. Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ la piel al sol. (imperfect) A. exponías B. exponían C. exponíamos D. exponía

  4. Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ sus ideas con claridad. (future) A. expondremos B. expondrás C. expondré D. expondrá

  5. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ sus cuadros en la galería si pudiera. (conditional) A. expondría B. expondrías C. expondrían D. expongo

  6. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ el problema en la reunión. (present subjunctive) A. expongas B. expongamos C. expongo D. exponga

  7. Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ la piel al sol, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. expusiéramos B. expongo C. expusiera D. expusieras

  8. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ sus ideas con claridad. (present perfect) A. han expuesto B. hemos expuesto C. he expuesto D. has expuesto

  9. Complete the command: ¡___ sus cuadros en la galería! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. expón B. exponga C. expongamos D. exponed

  10. Which is the gerund of exponer, used with estar for the progressive? A. expuesto B. expongo C. expuse D. exponiendo

Answer key

  1. expongo — The first-person present of exponer is expongo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
  2. expuso — The third-person preterite of exponer is expuso, the form for a single finished action in the past.
  3. exponíamos — The nosotros imperfect of exponer is exponíamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
  4. expondrás — The second-person future of exponer is expondrás.
  5. expondría — The first-person conditional of exponer is expondría, the form for what would happen.
  6. exponga — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of exponer is exponga.
  7. expusiera — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of exponer is expusiera.
  8. hemos expuesto — The nosotros present perfect of exponer is hemos expuesto: hemos + expuesto.
  9. expón — The affirmative tú imperative of exponer is expón.
  10. exponiendo — The gerund of exponer is exponiendo: estoy exponiendo. The participle expuesto is used with haber instead.

Frequently asked questions

What does exponer mean in English?

Exponer means to expose, to exhibit. It is used in everyday situations such as Expongo sus cuadros en la galería. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.

Is exponer regular or irregular?

Exponer 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 exponer and mostrar?

Exponer means to expose, to exhibit, while mostrar means to show. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use exponer when you mean to expose, to exhibit, as in Expongo sus cuadros en la galería, and use mostrar for to show. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.

How do I say “I expose” in the past?

It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo expuse el problema en la reunión. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo exponía la piel al sol. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he expuesto el problema en la reunión.

How do I practise exponer?

Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the exponer examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.

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