The Conditional Mood of Preferir is used to express hypothetical preference or what you would prefer in a given situation, for example: Preferiría tomar un café. (I would prefer to have a coffee.)

Preferir is a stem-changing verb, meaning the vowel in the stem changes from e to ie in certain conjugations. This pattern applies to the Conditional conjugations.

Conjugations

Conjugations of Preferir (to prefer) in the Conditional Mood tense (Castilian Spanish):

The conditional mood of preferir is used to express hypothetical or imagined preferences, wishes, or desires.

Expressing a hypothetical preference: For example, Preferiría comer una ensalada. (I would prefer to eat a salad.) This conveys a preference in an imagined or hypothetical situation.

Expressing a polite wish or desire: For example, Preferiría que no fumaran aquí. (I would prefer that you don’t smoke here.) This expresses a polite wish or desire in a hypothetical context.

Expressing a conditional preference: For example, Si tuviera más dinero, preferiría viajar al extranjero. (If I had more money, I would prefer to travel abroad.) This expresses a preference that is contingent on a hypothetical condition.

Expressing uncertainty or indecision: For example, No sé qué preferiría hacer este fin de semana. (I don’t know what I would prefer to do this weekend.) This conveys uncertainty or indecision about a hypothetical preference.

Expressing a polite suggestion or recommendation: For example, Preferiría que estudiaras más para el examen. (I would prefer that you study more for the exam.) This offers a polite suggestion or recommendation in a hypothetical context.

Examples

Examples of Preferir in the Conditional Mood

¿Preferirías ir al cine o quedarte en casa? (Would you prefer to go to the movies or stay home?)

Yo preferiría tomar un café en lugar de un té. (I would prefer to have a coffee instead of tea.)

Ellos preferirían viajar en avión en lugar de conducir. (They would prefer to travel by plane instead of driving.)

Nosotros preferiríamos salir a cenar afuera esta noche. (We would prefer to go out for dinner tonight.)

¿Preferirías trabajar desde casa o ir a la oficina? (Would you prefer to work from home or go to the office?)

Mis amigos preferirían ir a un concierto en vivo. (My friends would prefer to go to a live concert.)

Yo preferiría quedarme en un hotel de lujo durante mis vacaciones. (I would prefer to stay in a luxury hotel during my vacation.)

¿Preferiríais tomar un curso en línea o en persona? (Would you all prefer to take an online course or in person?)

Ellas preferirían comprar ropa de marca en lugar de genérica. (They would prefer to buy brand-name clothes instead of generic.)

Nosotros preferiríamos comer comida saludable en lugar de comida chatarra. (We would prefer to eat healthy food instead of junk food.)

¿Preferirías leer un libro o ver una película? (Would you prefer to read a book or watch a movie?)

Mis padres preferirían que yo estudiara una carrera profesional. (My parents would prefer that I study a professional career.)

Yo preferiría pasar mis vacaciones en la playa en lugar de la montaña. (I would prefer to spend my vacation at the beach instead of the mountains.)

¿Preferirían ustedes tomar un taxi o usar el transporte público? (Would you all prefer to take a taxi or use public transportation?)

Ellos preferirían ahorrar dinero en lugar de gastarlo. (They would prefer to save money instead of spending it.)

Conjugations with English Translations

Conjugations of Preferir (to prefer) in the Conditional Mood tense (Castilian Spanish) with English Translations:

This post covers Castilian Spanish. For Latin American Spanish, click here

Synonyms

The Conditional mood is also known as the Simple Conditional, Conditional Simple, Would Tense, or Future of the Past in English, and as Condicional Simple, Pospretérito, Potencial Simple, or Condicional de Indicativo in Spanish.