The preterite of prepararse is used to express when you got ready at a specific moment in the past. For example, when you want to say “I got ready for the party in just 30 minutes” – “Me preparé para la fiesta en solo 30 minutos.”
This is a regular -ar reflexive verb in the preterite tense. Remember to include the appropriate reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nos, os, se) before each conjugated form.
Conjugations
Conjugations of Prepararse (to get ready) in the Preterite (Past) Tense tense (Castilian Spanish):
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | me preparé |
| Tú | te preparaste |
| Él / Ella / Usted | se preparó |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | nos preparamos |
| Vosotros / Vosotras | os preparasteis |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | se prepararon |
Boost Your Memorization with Audio!
We’ve included audio recordings of the the conjugations of Prepararse (to get ready) in the Preterite (Past) Tense to help you learn faster.
Pro Tip: Play the audio on a loop as you study the chart. This repetition will solidify the correct conjugations in your memory.
Usage of Prepararse in the Preterite (Past) Tense
The Preterite of prepararse expresses completed acts of getting ready.
To get ready/prepare oneself: Describes completing preparations, for example Me preparé para el examen (I prepared myself for the exam), or Se prepararon para la fiesta (They got ready for the party).
To make arrangements: Refers to making personal preparations, for example Nos preparamos para el viaje (We prepared ourselves for the trip).
Examples
Examples of Prepararse in the Preterite (Past) Tense
Me preparé para el examen toda la noche. (I prepared myself for the exam all night.)
¿Te preparaste bien para la entrevista? (Did you prepare yourself well for the interview?)
Juan se preparó para correr el maratón. (Juan prepared himself to run the marathon.)
Nos preparamos para la fiesta con anticipación. (We prepared ourselves for the party in advance.)
Los atletas se prepararon para la competencia. (The athletes prepared themselves for the competition.)
Me preparé un café antes de salir. (I prepared myself a coffee before leaving.)
Te preparaste muy rápido esta mañana. (You got yourself ready very quickly this morning.)
El equipo se preparó para el partido final. (The team prepared themselves for the final game.)
Nos preparamos para lo peor. (We prepared ourselves for the worst.)
Los estudiantes se prepararon para la presentación. (The students prepared themselves for the presentation.)
Me preparé mentalmente para el cambio. (I prepared myself mentally for the change.)
¿Cómo te preparaste para el viaje? (How did you prepare yourself for the trip?)
Se preparó durante meses para la boda. (She prepared herself for months for the wedding.)
Nos preparamos para mudarnos de casa. (We prepared ourselves to move house.)
Los actores se prepararon para la escena. (The actors prepared themselves for the scene.)
Conjugations with English Translations
Conjugations of Prepararse (to get ready) in the Preterite (Past) Tense tense (Castilian Spanish) with English Translations:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Yo me preparé | I got ready |
| Tú te preparaste | You got ready |
| Él / Ella / Usted se preparó | He / She / You (formal) got ready |
| Nosotros / Nosotras nos preparamos | We got ready |
| Vosotros / Vosotras os preparasteis | You all got ready |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes se prepararon | They / You all (formal) got ready |
This post covers Castilian Spanish. For Latin American Spanish, click here
Synonyms
The Preterite tense is also known as the Simple Past, Past Simple, Definite Past, Absolute Past, or Past Tense Indicative in English, and as Pretérito Perfecto Simple, Pretérito Indefinido, Pretérito Simple, Pasado Simple, or Pretérito de Indicativo in Spanish.