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Conjugation Chart

“Preferir” (to prefer) in the Present Tense

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Understanding the Present Tense of “Preferir”

The Present Tense of Preferir is used to express preferences in the present moment. For example, Prefiero la pizza con champiñones. (I prefer pizza with mushrooms.)

Preferir is a stem-changing verb, meaning the vowel in the stem changes in certain conjugations. The e changes to ie in all forms except nosotros and vosotros.

How to Use Preferir in the Present Tense

Preferir generally means to prefer or choose one thing over another, but has several different meanings in the Present Tense, some of which might surprise you.

To prefer or favor something: For example, Yo prefiero el café negro. (I prefer black coffee.)

To choose or select something: For example, Prefiero quedarme en casa esta noche. (I prefer to stay home tonight.)

To like something better: For example, Prefiero la pizza con champiñones. (I prefer pizza with mushrooms.)

Colloquial usage (mild): For example, Prefiero no decir nada. (I’d rather not say anything.)

Colloquial usage (stronger): For example, ¡Prefiero morirme antes que hacer eso! (I’d rather die than do that!)

Real Life Examples of Preferir in the Present Tense

Yo prefiero tomar café por la mañana. (I prefer to have coffee in the morning.)

¿Tú prefieres la playa o la montaña? (Do you prefer the beach or the mountains?)

Ella prefiere leer novelas en su tiempo libre. (She prefers to read novels in her free time.)

Nosotros preferimos comer comida casera en lugar de comida rápida. (We prefer to eat homemade food instead of fast food.)

¿Ustedes prefieren ver una película de acción o una comedia? (Do you prefer to watch an action movie or a comedy?)

Ellos prefieren viajar en avión porque es más rápido. (They prefer to travel by plane because it’s faster.)

En mi familia, preferimos pasar tiempo juntos los fines de semana. (In my family, we prefer to spend time together on weekends.)

¿Prefieres estudiar en casa o en la biblioteca? (Do you prefer to study at home or at the library?)

Mi amigo prefiere escuchar música rock en lugar de música pop. (My friend prefers to listen to rock music instead of pop music.)

Nosotros preferimos hacer ejercicio al aire libre cuando el clima está agradable. (We prefer to exercise outdoors when the weather is nice.)

¿Ustedes prefieren ir al cine o quedarse en casa y ver una película? (Do you prefer to go to the movies or stay home and watch a movie?)

Ella prefiere trabajar desde casa porque le ahorra tiempo de viaje. (She prefers to work from home because it saves her commute time.)

En mi opinión, prefiero las vacaciones de verano a las vacaciones de invierno. (In my opinion, I prefer summer vacations to winter vacations.)

¿Prefieres pagar con efectivo o con tarjeta de crédito? (Do you prefer to pay with cash or credit card?)

Ellos prefieren viajar a destinos culturales en lugar de destinos de playa. (They prefer to travel to cultural destinations instead of beach destinations.)

Conjugation Chart with English Translations

Conjugations of Preferir (to prefer) in the Present Tense (Castilian Spanish) with English Translations:

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

Synonyms

The Present tense is also known as the Simple Present, Present Simple, Present Tense, or Present Indicative in English, and as Presente de Indicativo, Presente Simple, Tiempo Presente, or Indicativo Presente in Spanish.