preparar Preterite Conjugation
preparar — to prepare
The preterite of preparar is regular: preparé, preparaste, preparó, preparamos, preparasteis, prepararon.
preparar Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite to describe a completed action in the past, such as when you finished preparing a meal or a document at a specific time.
Notes on preparar in the Preterite
Preparar is fully regular in the preterite. Note that the 'nosotros' form is the same as the present tense.
Example Sentences
Ayer preparé una tarta deliciosa.
Yesterday I prepared a delicious cake.
yo
Ella preparó el informe para la reunión.
She prepared the report for the meeting.
él/ella/usted
Nosotros preparamos todo antes de la fiesta.
We prepared everything before the party.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Forgetting the accent on preparé or preparó.
Correct: preparé / preparó
Why: Without the accent, the word can be confused with other tenses or lose its past-tense meaning.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: preparo
The present tense of preparar is regular: preparo, preparas, prepara, preparamos, preparáis, preparan.
Imperfect
yo: preparaba
The imperfect of preparar uses the regular -aba endings: preparaba, preparabas, preparaba, preparábamos, preparabais, preparaban.
Future
yo: prepararé
The future of preparar adds endings to the infinitive: prepararé, prepararás, preparará, prepararemos, prepararéis, prepararán.
Conditional
yo: prepararía
The conditional of preparar is regular: prepararía, prepararías, prepararía, prepararíamos, prepararíais, prepararían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: prepare
The present subjunctive of preparar changes the -a to -e: prepare, prepares, prepare, preparemos, preparéis, preparen.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: preparara
The imperfect subjunctive of preparar is formed from the preterite stem: preparara, prepararas, preparara, preparáramos, prepararais, prepararan.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: prepara
The affirmative imperative of preparar gives commands: prepara (tú), prepare (usted), preparad (vosotros).
Negative Imperative
yo: no prepares
The negative imperative of preparar uses the present subjunctive: no prepares, no prepare, no preparemos, no preparéis, no preparen.