Porre Conjugation in Italian
porre means “to place” in English, and it is one of the first verbs Italian learners meet — it sits at number 356 in VerbFlow’s frequency list for Italian verbs. It is one of the -rre verbs, and it is totally irregular: the present, the remoto and the participle use different stems, so the io form is pongo, the participle is posto and the future is porrò. It means to place or to put something somewhere, and it is more formal than mettere. This page gives you the complete conjugation of porre — every tense, every person, the gerund and the past participle — with notes, examples, common mistakes and a quiz. Here is the verb in a natural sentence: “Io pongo il libro sul tavolo ogni giorno.” — “I place the book on the table.”
Quick facts
- Infinitive: porre
- English: to place
- Verb type: Irregular -ere verb
- Irregular in: present, passato-remoto, imperfect, future, conditional, present-perfect, pluperfect, future-perfect, conditional-perfect, present-subjunctive, imperfect-subjunctive, gerund, past-participle, imperative-affirmative, imperative-negative
- Gerund: ponendo
- Present participle: ponente
- Past participle: posto
- Auxiliary: avere (all perfect tenses are formed with avere + the past participle)
- Ending: -ere verbs; pattern ere in the verified tables
Pronunciation
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for porre, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Learn the spelling of the forms first, and listen to a native speaker for the sounds rather than trusting an invented transcription. The forms below are the ones that matter: once you can read porre in every tense, you can recognise it in speech even before you can pronounce every form perfectly.
Three things to remember about porre
- It is irregular in 15 tense(s): present, passato-remoto, imperfect, future, conditional, present-perfect, pluperfect, future-perfect, conditional-perfect, present-subjunctive, imperfect-subjunctive, gerund, past-participle, imperative-affirmative, imperative-negative. Learn those forms as a set instead of guessing them from the infinitive, because the stem changes in ways no rule predicts. It is one of the -rre verbs: the present, the remoto and the participle use different stems, so the io form is pongo and the participle is posto.
- The perfect tenses use avere: the passato prossimo is formed with avere in the present plus the past participle posto. The tables on this page give the participle in the masculine singular form, exactly as it appears in the verified dump; agreement with the subject is a separate step that depends on the sentence, not on the verb table.
- The participles are ponente and posto: keep both in mind as you read the tables, because the present participle appears as an adjective and the past participle appears in every perfect tense. If you know those two forms and the present tense, you already know the skeleton of the whole conjugation.
A note on porre
A note on the pattern: porre is one of the -rre verbs, so its present, remoto and participle use different stems — io pongo, the participle posto, the future porrò — while the imperfect follows the regular pattern from the stem. It means to place or to put something somewhere, and it is more formal than mettere.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from VerbFlow’s verified conjugation tables for porre. Learn the present tense first, then the passato prossimo and the imperfect, and add the remaining tenses one at a time.
Present indicative (presente)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| io | pongo |
| tu | poni |
| lui/lei | pone |
| noi | poniamo |
| voi | ponete |
| loro | pongono |
The present indicative is used for habits, facts and things happening now. For example: “Io pongo il libro sul tavolo ogni giorno.” — “I place the book on the table”
Passato remoto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| io | posi |
| tu | ponesti |
| lui/lei | pose |
| noi | ponemmo |
| voi | poneste |
| loro | posero |
The passato remoto is used for completed actions in the distant past, mostly in written and literary Italian and in the south of Italy. For example: “Io posi il libro sul tavolo ieri.” — “I placed the book on the table”
Imperfect (imperfetto)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| io | ponevo |
| tu | ponevi |
| lui/lei | poneva |
| noi | ponevamo |
| voi | ponevate |
| loro | ponevano |
The imperfect is used for ongoing or habitual actions in the past, and for background description. For example: “Io ponevo il libro sul tavolo una volta.” — “I used to place the book on the table”
Future (futuro semplice)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| io | porrò |
| tu | porrai |
| lui/lei | porrà |
| noi | porremo |
| voi | porrete |
| loro | porranno |
The future is used for what will happen, for predictions and for probability. For example: “Io porrò il libro sul tavolo domani.” — “I will place the book on the table”
Conditional (condizionale)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| io | porrei |
| tu | porresti |
| lui/lei | porrebbe |
| noi | porremmo |
| voi | porreste |
| loro | porrebbero |
The conditional is used for what would happen, for polite requests and for hypothetical situations. For example: “Io porrei il libro sul tavolo un giorno.” — “I would place the book on the table”
Present perfect (passato prossimo)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| io | ho posto |
| tu | hai posto |
| lui/lei | ha posto |
| noi | abbiamo posto |
| voi | avete posto |
| loro | hanno posto |
The passato prossimo is used for completed actions in the past, especially in spoken Italian. For example: “Lui ha posto il libro sul tavolo questa settimana.” — “He has placed the book on the table”
Pluperfect (trapassato prossimo)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| io | avevo posto |
| tu | avevi posto |
| lui/lei | aveva posto |
| noi | avevamo posto |
| voi | avevate posto |
| loro | avevano posto |
The pluperfect is used for an action completed before another past action. For example: “Io avevo posto il libro sul tavolo prima della festa.” — “I had placed the book on the table”
Future perfect (futuro anteriore)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| io | avrò posto |
| tu | avrai posto |
| lui/lei | avrà posto |
| noi | avremo posto |
| voi | avrete posto |
| loro | avranno posto |
The future perfect is used for what will have happened by a point in the future. For example: “Io avrò posto il libro sul tavolo per domani.” — “I will have placed the book on the table”
Conditional perfect (condizionale passato)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| io | avrei posto |
| tu | avresti posto |
| lui/lei | avrebbe posto |
| noi | avremmo posto |
| voi | avreste posto |
| loro | avrebbero posto |
The conditional perfect is used for what would have happened in a different past. For example: “Io avrei posto il libro sul tavolo ieri.” — “I would have placed the book on the table”
Present subjunctive (congiuntivo presente)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| io | ponga |
| tu | ponga |
| lui/lei | ponga |
| noi | poniamo |
| voi | poniate |
| loro | pongano |
The present subjunctive is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and opinions after che. For example: “È importante che io ponga il libro sul tavolo.” — “It is important that I place the book on the table”
Imperfect subjunctive (congiuntivo imperfetto)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| io | ponessi |
| tu | ponessi |
| lui/lei | ponesse |
| noi | ponessimo |
| voi | poneste |
| loro | ponessero |
The imperfect subjunctive is used in the past for wishes and hypotheticals after che, and in if-clauses. For example: “Era importante che io ponessi il libro sul tavolo.” — “It was important that I place the book on the table”
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | poni |
| lui/lei | ponga |
| noi | poniamo |
| voi | ponete |
| loro | pongano |
The affirmative imperative is used for direct commands and instructions. For example: “Poni il libro sul tavolo!” — “Place the book on the table!”
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | porre |
| lui/lei | ponga |
| noi | poniamo |
| voi | poniate |
| loro | pongano |
The negative imperative is used for prohibitions and negative commands. For example: “Non porre il libro sul tavolo.” — “Do not place the book on the table.”
Gerund
| Form | Italian |
|---|---|
| Gerund | ponendo |
The gerund is used for an action happening at the same time as another action, often with stare for the progressive. For example: “Ponendo il libro sul tavolo, imparo molto.” — “While placing the book on the table, I learn a lot.”
Present participle
| Form | Italian |
|---|---|
| Present participle | ponente |
The present participle is used as an adjective, describing an ongoing action. For example, the participle ponente is used to describe something that is happening at the same time as the main action, much like an English -ing adjective.
Past participle
| Form | Italian |
|---|---|
| Past participle | posto |
The past participle is used with an auxiliary to form the perfect tenses, and as an adjective. For example: “Io ho posto il libro sul tavolo questa settimana.” — “I have placed the book on the table.”
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with porre, covering different tenses and persons. Say each one aloud, then cover the Italian and try to produce it from the English.
- “Io pongo il libro sul tavolo ogni giorno.” — “I place the book on the table”
- “Tu ponesti il libro sul tavolo ieri.” — “You placed the book on the table”
- “Lui poneva il libro sul tavolo una volta.” — “He used to place the book on the table”
- “Io porrò il libro sul tavolo domani.” — “I will place the book on the table”
- “Tu porresti il libro sul tavolo un giorno.” — “You would place the book on the table”
- “Lui ha posto il libro sul tavolo questa settimana.” — “He has placed the book on the table”
- “Io avevo posto il libro sul tavolo prima della festa.” — “I had placed the book on the table”
- “Tu avrai posto il libro sul tavolo per domani.” — “You will have placed the book on the table”
- “È importante che io ponga il libro sul tavolo.” — “It is important that I place the book on the table”
- “Poni il libro sul tavolo!” — “Place the book on the table!”
Common mistakes
1. Using the infinitive instead of a conjugated form
✗ Wrong: “Io porre il libro sul tavolo.”
✓ Right: “Io pongo il libro sul tavolo ogni giorno.”
The infinitive porre never takes a subject. After io you need the conjugated present form pongo.
2. Using the wrong person’s form
✗ Wrong: “Io poni il libro sul tavolo.”
✓ Right: “Io pongo il libro sul tavolo ogni giorno.”
poni is the tu form, not the io form. Match the verb to the subject every time: io goes with pongo.
3. Using the present for a finished past action
✗ Wrong: “Io pongo il libro sul tavolo ieri.”
✓ Right: “Io ho posto il libro sul tavolo questa settimana.”
Yesterday points to the past, so the present is wrong here. Use the passato prossimo ho posto for a finished action yesterday.
4. Using the wrong auxiliary in the passato prossimo
✗ Wrong: “Io sono posto il libro sul tavolo.”
✓ Right: “Io ho posto il libro sul tavolo questa settimana.”
The passato prossimo of porre is formed with avere plus the past participle posto: the io form is ho posto. Check the auxiliary in the table above before you build a perfect tense.
5. Using the indicative after a subjunctive trigger
✗ Wrong: “È importante che io pongo il libro sul tavolo.”
✓ Right: “È importante che io ponga il libro sul tavolo.”
After è importante che Italian needs the subjunctive, so use ponga here, not the indicative pongo.
6. Using the gerund instead of the past participle in a perfect tense
✗ Wrong: “Io ho ponendo il libro sul tavolo.”
✓ Right: “Io ho posto il libro sul tavolo questa settimana.”
The perfect tenses need the past participle posto, not the gerund ponendo. The gerund belongs in progressive constructions, never after an auxiliary in a perfect tense.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on porre. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
What is the io form of porre in the Present indicative?
- A) poni
- B) pongo
- C) pone
- D) poniamo
What is the lui/lei form of porre in the Passato remoto?
- A) posi
- B) ponesti
- C) pose
- D) ponemmo
What is the noi form of porre in the Imperfect?
- A) ponevo
- B) ponevi
- C) poneva
- D) ponevamo
What is the tu form of porre in the Future?
- A) porrai
- B) porrò
- C) porrà
- D) porremo
What is the io form of porre in the Conditional?
- A) porresti
- B) porrei
- C) porrebbe
- D) porremmo
What is the lui/lei form of porre in the Present perfect (passato prossimo)?
- A) ho posto
- B) hai posto
- C) ha posto
- D) abbiamo posto
What is the lui/lei form of porre in the Present subjunctive?
- A) poniamo
- B) poniate
- C) pongano
- D) ponga
What is the io form of porre in the Imperfect subjunctive?
- A) ponessi
- B) ponesse
- C) ponessimo
- D) poneste
What is the gerund of porre?
- A) posto
- B) ponendo
- C) porre
- D) pongo
What does porre mean in English?
- A) to explain
- B) to answer
- C) to place
- D) to ask
Answer key
- B) pongo — the correct form is pongo. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) pose — the correct form is pose. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) ponevamo — the correct form is ponevamo. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) porrai — the correct form is porrai. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) porrei — the correct form is porrei. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) ha posto — the correct form is ha posto. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) ponga — the correct form is ponga. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) ponessi — the correct form is ponessi. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) ponendo — the correct form is ponendo. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) to place — the correct form is to place. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
Frequently asked questions
What does porre mean in English?
porre means “to place”. It is a core everyday verb, so its present-tense forms are worth learning first.
Is porre regular or irregular?
porre is irregular: it is irregular in present, passato-remoto, imperfect, future, conditional, present-perfect, pluperfect, future-perfect, conditional-perfect, present-subjunctive, imperfect-subjunctive, gerund, past-participle, imperative-affirmative, imperative-negative. The gerund is ponendo and the past participle is posto.
What are the gerund and past participle of porre?
The gerund is ponendo — use it with stare for the progressive. The past participle is posto — use it with avere for the perfect tenses, as in ho posto.
Which auxiliary does porre take in the passato prossimo?
porre takes avere in the passato prossimo: the io form is ho posto. All four perfect tenses on this page are built with avere plus the past participle posto.
How do I say “I place” in Italian?
Say “Io pongo il libro sul tavolo ogni giorno.” — “I place the book on the table” The io form of the present is pongo, and it is the form you will use most often.
Related pages
- Full conjugation of porre — every tense of porre in one place.
- Porre in the passato prossimo tense — the full table and usage rules for one tense.
- Porre examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice questions for this verb.
- Italian passato prossimo tense guide — the full guide to the passato prossimo tense in Italian.
- Italian irregular verbs — every common irregular Italian verb, grouped by pattern.
- Rispondere conjugation — another everyday Italian verb.
- Discutere conjugation — another everyday Italian verb.
- Italian verbs — the full hub of Italian conjugation pages.
- VerbFlow home — all languages, tools and verb lists.
- Verb Conjugator — practise porre with the interactive tool.
- Conjugation Chart Printer — practise porre with the interactive tool.
- Tense Finder — practise porre with the interactive tool.