to prefer
hablamos regular endingpienso stem changetengo irregularbusqué spelling change
Presente · What happens now or habitually
Prefiero el café sin azúcar.
I prefer coffee without sugar.
Pretérito · A completed action in the past
Mi hermana prefirió quedarse en casa.
My sister preferred to stay home.
Imperfecto · Ongoing or habitual past; "used to"
Preferíamos vivir cerca del mar.
We preferred living near the sea.
Futuro · What will happen
Tus hijos preferirán la playa.
Your kids will prefer the beach.
Condicional · What would happen
Preferiría salir mañana.
I'd rather leave tomorrow.
Pretérito perfecto · Has/have done
Siempre hemos preferido este restaurante.
We've always preferred this restaurant.
Pluscuamperfecto · Had done
Ella siempre había preferido el campo.
She had always preferred the countryside.
Futuro perfecto · Will have done
Rarely used with this verb.
Condicional perfecto · Would have done
Mis padres habrían preferido quedarse.
My parents would have preferred to stay.
Presente de subjuntivo · Wishes, doubts, emotions about the present or future
Haz lo que prefieras.
Do what you prefer.
Imperfecto de subjuntivo (-ra) · Hypotheticals and past wishes; the common form
Mi mamá esperaba que prefiriéramos su comida.
My mom was hoping we'd prefer her cooking.
Imperfecto de subjuntivo (-se) · Same meaning as -ra; more literary
Temía que prefiriesen otro hotel.
I was afraid they would prefer another hotel.
Pretérito perfecto de subjuntivo · Subjunctive for something that has happened
Me alegra que hayas preferido venir.
I'm glad you preferred to come.
Pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo · Contrary-to-fact past: "if I had..."
Si lo hubiera preferido, te lo habría dicho.
If I had preferred it, I would have told you.
Imperativo afirmativo · Commands: do it!
Rarely used with this verb.
Imperativo negativo · Commands: don't do it!
Rarely used with this verb.