preferir Present Subjunctive Conjugation
preferir — to prefer
The present subjunctive changes 'e' to 'ie' in most forms, but 'e' to 'i' in nosotros and vosotros.
preferir Present Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Present Subjunctive
Use this when expressing a wish or recommendation that someone else prefers something.
Notes on preferir in the Present Subjunctive
Watch out for the 'nosotros' form: it is 'prefiramos' (e-to-i), not 'prefieramos'.
Example Sentences
Espero que prefieras mi regalo.
I hope that you prefer my gift.
tú
Es mejor que prefiramos la opción más barata.
It is better that we prefer the cheapest option.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'prefieramos' for nosotros.
Correct: The correct form is prefiramos.
Why: -ir stem-changers have a special 'i' change in the nosotros/vosotros forms of the subjunctive.
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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.
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.
Negative Imperative
yo: no prefieras
Negative commands always use the present subjunctive forms (no prefieras, no prefiera).