impongamos

Impongamos is the first-person plural present subjunctive form of the Spanish verb imponer, meaning to impose. It is used mainly in subordinate clauses that require the subjunctive, or in exhortative constructions where the speaker includes themselves with others to propose an action or policy. It is not an ordinary imperative; the indicative form imponeremos or imponemos is used to state that something is being imposed, while impongamos expresses a wish, suggestion, or tentative plan involving the group.

Etymology: imponer comes from Latin imponere, “to place upon.”

Conjugation: present subjunctive forms include yo imponga, tú impongas, él imponga, nosotros impongamos, vosotros impongáis, ellos impongan.

Usage: impongamos is common after verbs of desire, necessity, or recommendation, or in clauses introduced by que, para que, or con el fin de que to express proposals. Examples include: Es necesario que impongamos restricciones para reducir la contaminación. Impongamos normas claras para garantizar la seguridad. In such contexts, impongamos carries a sense of collective decision or action that the speaker invites others to adopt.

Notes: The form is more frequent in formal or rhetorical Spanish, such as political or policy discourse, and is less common in everyday speech outside of those registers. It should not be confused with imponemos, the indicative form used for stating a fact about what is being imposed.

See also: imponer, subjunctive mood, jussive subjunctive.