Proponer Conjugation in Spanish

The Spanish verb proponer means to propose, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Proponer means to propose, and it covers proposing a plan in a meeting, proposing a toast, proposing a solution and proposing marriage. It is one of the most irregular verbs in this batch: the present is propongo, the preterite is propuse, the future stem is propondr- and the participle is propuesto. Like every Spanish verb, proponer 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 propongo un nuevo horario en la reunión, and in the preterite you say propuse una solución al problema. 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: proponer
  • English: to propose
  • Verb type: irregular verb
  • Ending: -er
  • Gerund: proponiendo
  • Past participle: propuesto
  • Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + propuesto)

Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for proponer, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Proponer is irregular: propongo in the present, propuse in the preterite, propondré in the future and propuesto as the participle. Learn these four forms as a set.

Full conjugation tables

Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for proponer. 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 propongo
tú propones
él/ella/Ud. propone
nosotros/as proponemos
vosotros/as proponéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. proponen

Preterite

Person Form
yo propuse
tú propusiste
él/ella/Ud. propuso
nosotros/as propusimos
vosotros/as propusisteis
ellos/ellas/Uds. propusieron

Imperfect

Person Form
yo proponía
tú proponías
él/ella/Ud. proponía
nosotros/as proponíamos
vosotros/as proponíais
ellos/ellas/Uds. proponían

Future

Person Form
yo propondré
tú propondrás
él/ella/Ud. propondrá
nosotros/as propondremos
vosotros/as propondréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. propondrán

Conditional

Person Form
yo propondría
tú propondrías
él/ella/Ud. propondría
nosotros/as propondríamos
vosotros/as propondríais
ellos/ellas/Uds. propondrían

Present perfect

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

Pluperfect

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

Future perfect

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

Conditional perfect

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

Present subjunctive

Person Form
yo proponga
tú propongas
él/ella/Ud. proponga
nosotros/as propongamos
vosotros/as propongáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. propongan

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Person Form
yo propusiera
tú propusieras
él/ella/Ud. propusiera
nosotros/as propusiéramos
vosotros/as propusierais
ellos/ellas/Uds. propusieran

Imperative (affirmative)

Person Form
tú propón
él/ella/Ud. proponga
nosotros/as propongamos
vosotros/as proponed
ellos/ellas/Uds. propongan

Imperative (negative)

Person Form
tú propongas
él/ella/Ud. proponga
nosotros/as propongamos
vosotros/as propongáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. propongan

Gerund and past participle

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

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: the stem is propus- in the preterite and propong- in the present, so learn these forms as a set rather than deriving them from the infinitive. For proponer, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Propongo un nuevo horario en la reunión. 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: the stem is propus- in the preterite and propong- in the present, so learn these forms as a set rather than deriving them from the infinitive. For proponer, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, propuse un brindis por los novios. 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 proponer, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, proponía una solución al problema. 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: the stem is propondr-, so the forms are propondré, propondrás and so on, not proponeré. For proponer, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, propondré un plan de trabajo al equipo. 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: the stem is propondr-, so the forms are propondré, propondrás and so on, not proponeré. For proponer, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Propondría un nuevo horario en la reunión 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 propuesto, not proponido — the auxiliary haber is completely regular. For proponer, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he propuesto un brindis por los novios. 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 propuesto, not proponido — the auxiliary haber is completely regular. For proponer, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había propuesto una solución al problema 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 propuesto, not proponido — the auxiliary haber is completely regular. For proponer, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré propuesto un plan de trabajo al equipo. 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 propuesto, not proponido — the auxiliary haber is completely regular. For proponer, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría propuesto un nuevo horario en la reunión 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: the stem is propus- in the preterite and propong- in the present, so learn these forms as a set rather than deriving them from the infinitive. For proponer, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él proponga un brindis por los novios. 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: the stem is propus- in the preterite and propong- in the present, so learn these forms as a set rather than deriving them from the infinitive. For proponer, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él propusiera una solución al problema, 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: the stem is propus- in the preterite and propong- in the present, so learn these forms as a set rather than deriving them from the infinitive. For proponer, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Propón un plan de trabajo al equipo! 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: the stem is propus- in the preterite and propong- in the present, so learn these forms as a set rather than deriving them from the infinitive. For proponer, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No propongas un nuevo horario en la reunión. 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 proponer, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.

  1. Propongo un nuevo horario en la reunión. — I propose a new timetable at the meeting.
  2. Propone un brindis por los novios. — He/she proposes a toast to the newlyweds.
  3. Ayer, propuse una solución al problema. — Yesterday, I proposed a solution to the problem.
  4. Antes, nosotros proponíamos un plan de trabajo al equipo. — Before, we used to propose a work plan to the team.
  5. Mañana, tú propondrás un nuevo horario en la reunión. — Tomorrow, you will propose a new timetable at the meeting.
  6. Yo propondría un brindis por los novios si tuviera más tiempo. — I would propose a toast to the newlyweds if I had more time.
  7. Él ha propuesto una solución al problema. — He has proposed a solution to the problem.
  8. Espero que él proponga un plan de trabajo al equipo. — I hope he proposes a work plan to the team.
  9. Yo ya había propuesto un nuevo horario en la reunión antes de salir. — I had already proposed a new timetable at the meeting before leaving.
  10. Ellos proponían un brindis por los novios cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to propose a toast to the newlyweds when they were young.

Common mistakes

  1. Wrong: Yo propone un nuevo horario en la reunión. — Right: Yo propongo un nuevo horario en la reunión. — The person matters: propone is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is propongo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
  2. Wrong: Yo propono un brindis por los novios. — Right: Yo propongo un brindis por los novios. — In the present, the correct first-person form is propongo, not propono. Proponer is irregular: the preterite stem is propus- (propuse, propuso), the present is propongo, the future stem is propondr-, and the participle is propuesto. Learn these as a set.
  3. Wrong: Treating proponer and sugerir as identical in every context. — Right: Proponer means to propose, while sugerir means to suggest, the lighter verb. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: proponer fits sentences such as Propongo un nuevo horario en la reunión, while sugerir belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
  4. Wrong: Yo soy propuesto un brindis por los novios. — Right: Yo he propuesto un brindis por los novios. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he propuesto, has propuesto, ha propuesto. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
  5. Wrong: De niño, yo propuse una solución al problema todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo proponía una solución al problema todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (proponía), not the preterite. The preterite (propuse) is for one finished action.

Quiz: test yourself

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

  1. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ un nuevo horario en la reunión. (present tense) A. propongo B. propones C. propone D. proponemos

  2. Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ un brindis por los novios. (preterite) A. propuse B. propusiste C. propusieron D. propuso

  3. Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ una solución al problema. (imperfect) A. proponías B. proponían C. proponíamos D. proponía

  4. Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ un plan de trabajo al equipo. (future) A. propondremos B. propondrás C. propondré D. propondrá

  5. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ un nuevo horario en la reunión si pudiera. (conditional) A. propondría B. propondrías C. propondrían D. propongo

  6. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ un brindis por los novios. (present subjunctive) A. propongas B. propongamos C. propongo D. proponga

  7. Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ una solución al problema, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. propusiéramos B. propongo C. propusiera D. propusieras

  8. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ un plan de trabajo al equipo. (present perfect) A. han propuesto B. hemos propuesto C. he propuesto D. has propuesto

  9. Complete the command: ¡___ un nuevo horario en la reunión! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. propón B. proponga C. propongamos D. proponed

  10. Which is the gerund of proponer, used with estar for the progressive? A. propuesto B. propongo C. propuse D. proponiendo

Answer key

  1. propongo — The first-person present of proponer is propongo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
  2. propuso — The third-person preterite of proponer is propuso, the form for a single finished action in the past.
  3. proponíamos — The nosotros imperfect of proponer is proponíamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
  4. propondrás — The second-person future of proponer is propondrás.
  5. propondría — The first-person conditional of proponer is propondría, the form for what would happen.
  6. proponga — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of proponer is proponga.
  7. propusiera — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of proponer is propusiera.
  8. hemos propuesto — The nosotros present perfect of proponer is hemos propuesto: hemos + propuesto.
  9. propón — The affirmative tú imperative of proponer is propón.
  10. proponiendo — The gerund of proponer is proponiendo: estoy proponiendo. The participle propuesto is used with haber instead.

Frequently asked questions

What does proponer mean in English?

Proponer means to propose. It is used in everyday situations such as Propongo un nuevo horario en la reunión. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.

Is proponer regular or irregular?

Proponer 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 proponer and sugerir?

Proponer means to propose, while sugerir means to suggest, the lighter verb. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use proponer when you mean to propose, as in Propongo un nuevo horario en la reunión, and use sugerir for to suggest, the lighter verb. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.

How do I say “I propose” in the past?

It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo propuse un brindis por los novios. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo proponía una solución al problema. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he propuesto un brindis por los novios.

How do I practise proponer?

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

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