preferir Negative Imperative Conjugation
preferir — to prefer
Negative commands always use the present subjunctive forms (no prefieras, no prefiera).
preferir Negative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Negative Imperative
Use this to tell someone not to choose or favor a certain option.
Notes on preferir in the Negative Imperative
Because it uses subjunctive forms, the 'nosotros' form is 'no prefiramos' (e-to-i).
Example Sentences
No prefieras lo fácil sobre lo correcto.
Don't prefer the easy over the right.
tú
No prefiramos el dinero a la salud.
Let's not prefer money over health.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Saying 'no prefiere'.
Correct: The correct command is 'no prefieras'.
Why: Negative commands must use the subjunctive, not the indicative.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'preferir' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: prefiero
Preferir is an e-to-ie stem-changer in the present tense (yo prefiero, tú prefieres).
Preterite
yo: preferí
Preferir has a small 'e' to 'i' stem change only in the third-person forms (él prefirió, ellos prefirieron).
Imperfect
yo: prefería
Preferir is completely regular in the imperfect: prefería, preferías, prefería...
Future
yo: preferiré
The future tense is regular: just add endings to the infinitive (preferiré, preferirás).
Conditional
yo: preferiría
The conditional is regular and uses the infinitive: preferiría, preferirías, etc.
Present Subjunctive
yo: prefiera
The present subjunctive changes 'e' to 'ie' in most forms, but 'e' to 'i' in nosotros and vosotros.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: prefiriera
The imperfect subjunctive uses the 'prefir-' stem (prefiriera, prefirieras).
Affirmative Imperative
yo: prefiere
The imperative uses 'prefiere' for tú and 'prefiera' for formal commands.