prefieres
preh-FYEH-rehs
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
¿Qué prefieres, café o té?
A1What do you prefer, coffee or tea?
Si prefieres quedarte en casa, está bien.
A2If you prefer to stay at home, that's fine.
Parece que prefieres la música clásica a la moderna.
B1It seems that you prefer classical music over modern music.
💡 Grammar Points
Stem-Changing Verb
The verb 'preferir' is special because the 'e' in the middle changes to 'ie' in most forms, including 'prefieres'. This change happens whenever the stress falls on that syllable.
Tú Form (Informal You)
'Prefieres' is the form you use when speaking informally to a single person you know well (like a friend or relative).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Stem Change
Mistake: "¿Tú preferes ir?"
Correction: The correct form is '¿Tú prefieres ir?' Remember the 'ie' sound!
⭐ Usage Tips
Comparing Choices
When comparing two things, Spanish uses the preposition 'a' (to) where English uses 'over' or 'rather than': 'Prefiero el azul al rojo' (I prefer blue to red).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: prefieres
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly asks an informal friend what they prefer to do tonight?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'prefieres' a regular verb?
No, 'prefieres' comes from the verb 'preferir,' which is an irregular stem-changing verb. This means the 'e' changes to 'ie' in most present tense forms, which is why it's 'prefieres' instead of *preferes*.
How do I say 'I prefer'?
You would use the 'yo' form, which is also irregular: 'Yo prefiero'. (I prefer).