póngase

Póngase is a Spanish verb form that serves as the formal imperative of the reflexive verb ponerse. It is used with the pronoun se to address someone in the usted form, signaling a direct command, instruction, or request. The base verb ponerse combines the verb poner with the reflexive pronoun -se, and poner itself comes from Latin ponere, meaning “to put” or “to place.” In ponerse, the sense expands to “to put on” clothing or to enter a certain state or condition.

Morphology and related forms: póngase is the second-person formal singular imperative (usted) with the reflexive pronoun attached. The corresponding plural for ustedes is pónganse. In negative contexts, the form changes to no se ponga (usted) or no se pongan (ustedes). The accent on the o in póngase preserves the stress pattern when the pronoun is attached.

Usage and senses: primarily, póngase is used to instruct someone to put on clothing or accessories, as in póngase el abrigo or póngase la corbata. It is also used more broadly to tell someone to adopt or assume a state or action, such as póngase cómodo, póngase serio, or póngase a trabajar. Because it is formal, it is common in service interactions, medical settings, and formal writing.

Examples:

- Póngase el casco antes de entrar al área de construcción.

- Por favor, póngase la chaqueta; hace frío.

- No se ponga nervioso; todo va a estar bien.

See also: ponerse, imperativo, subjuntivo de ponerse.