Mastering Spanish verbs is a crucial part of becoming fluent in the language, and “preferir” is one of those essential verbs that frequently pops up in conversation, especially when expressing preferences. However, when it comes to discussing preferences that are more reflective or self-directed, the reflexive form “preferirse” comes into play, highlighting the action directed back at the subject. Understanding how to conjugate “preferirse” in Spanish is vital for students and enthusiasts aiming to articulate their likes and desires accurately in various situations.
Conjugating “preferirse” follows a pattern similar to other reflexive verbs in Spanish but includes the nuance of stem-changing from “e” to “ie” in most of its forms. This particularity underscores the importance of not only learning the standard verb conjugation endings but also remembering the changes that occur within the verb stem itself. Grasping these conjugation rules enables speakers to convey their messages more precisely and enhances their ability to engage in more complex conversations.
In this article, we delve into the nuances of how to conjugate “preferirse” in Spanish, breaking down each tense and providing insights into its correct usage. Whether you’re a beginner trying to get a handle on the basics or an advanced learner aiming to polish your skills, understanding this verb’s conjugation is a step toward achieving greater fluency. This fundamental aspect of Spanish grammar will enrich your language proficiency and allow you to express personal preferences with ease and accuracy.
Preferirse Conjugation Chart in Spanish
The verb “preferirse” is a reflexive form of “preferir”, which means “to prefer”. Below is the conjugation table for “preferirse” across various tenses and moods. Note that reflexive verbs require the use of reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nos, os, se), which are included with each conjugation.
| Personal Pronoun | Presente | Pretérito | Imperfecto | Futuro | Condicional | Presente Subjuntivo | Imperfecto Subjuntivo | Imperativo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | me prefiero | me preferí | me prefería | me preferiré | me preferiría | me prefiera | me prefiriera | prefíerete |
| Tú | te prefieres | te preferiste | te preferías | te preferirás | te preferirías | te prefieras | te prefirieras | prefierete |
| Él/Ella/Usted | se prefiere | se prefirió | se prefería | se preferirá | se preferiría | se prefiera | se prefiriera | prefierase |
| Nosotros | nos preferimos | nos preferimos | nos preferíamos | nos preferiremos | nos preferiríamos | nos prefiramos | nos prefiriéramos | prefirámonos |
| Vosotros | os preferís | os preferisteis | os preferíais | os preferiréis | os preferiríais | os prefiráis | os prefirierais | preferíos |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | se prefieren | se prefirieron | se preferían | se preferirán | se preferirían | se prefieran | se prefirieran | prefieranse |
Note: The imperative form for “tú” is somewhat nonstandard because reflexive verbs have nuances in commands. The “tú” imperative shown is an adapted form assuming a positive imperative; the typical affirmative command would be “prefiérete”, and the negative is standard, “no te prefieras”. The other imperative forms have been adapted to reflect the nature of reflexive commands, showing a more standard approach to formation.
Preferirse Conjugation Present Tense – Presente
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | me prefiero | Me prefiero tranquilo. | I prefer myself calm. |
| tú | te prefieres | Te prefieres sin compromisos. | You prefer yourself uncommitted. |
| él/ella/usted | se prefiere | Ella se prefiere independiente. | She prefers herself independent. |
| nosotros/nosotras | nos preferimos | Nos preferimos felices. | We prefer ourselves happy. |
| vosotros/vosotras | os preferís | Os preferís libres y salvajes. | You prefer yourselves free and wild. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | se prefieren | Se prefieren saludables. | They prefer themselves healthy. |
Preferirse Conjugation Present Perfect Tense – Pretérito Perfecto Conjugation Chart
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | me he preferido | Me he preferido ante la opción menos arriesgada. | I have preferred myself to the less risky option. |
| tú | te has preferido | Te has preferido en situaciones difíciles. | You have preferred yourself in difficult situations. |
| él/ella/usted | se ha preferido | Se ha preferido por su seguridad. | He/She has preferred himself/herself for his/her safety. |
| nosotros/nosotras | nos hemos preferido | Nos hemos preferido para evitar conflictos. | We have preferred ourselves to avoid conflicts. |
| vosotros/vosotras | os habéis preferido | Os habéis preferido en este proyecto. | You all have preferred yourselves in this project. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | se han preferido | Se han preferido antes que comprometer sus principios. | They/You all have preferred themselves before compromising their principles. |
Preferirse Conjugation Simple Paste Tense – Pretérito Indefinido
Here’s Preferirse conjugation preterite indefinido:
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | preferí | Yo me preferí en ese concurso. | I preferred myself in that contest. |
| tú | preferiste | Tú te preferiste en la selección. | You preferred yourself in the selection. |
| él/ella/usted | prefirió | Él se prefirió para el papel principal. | He preferred himself for the main role. |
| nosotros/as | preferimos | Nosotros nos preferimos para el equipo. | We preferred ourselves for the team. |
| vosotros/as | preferisteis | Vosotros os preferisteis sin dudarlo. | You all preferred yourselves without hesitation. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | prefirieron | Ellos se prefirieron para la promoción. | They preferred themselves for the promotion. |
Preferirse Imperfect Conjugation – Pretérito Imperfecto
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| (tú) | préferete | Préferete en esta situación. | Prefer yourself in this situation. |
| (usted) | prefierase | Prefiérase frente a las dificultades. | Prefer yourself in the face of difficulties. |
| (nosotros) | prefirámonos | Prefirámonos cuando tengamos que elegir. | Let’s prefer ourselves when we have to choose. |
| (vosotros) | preferios | Preferios en vuestras decisiones. | Prefer yourselves in your decisions. |
| (ustedes) | prefieranse | Prefiéranse siempre en la vida. | Always prefer yourselves in life. |
Preferirse Conjugation Pluperfect/Past Perfect Tense – Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | me había preferido | Antes de la cena, yo ya me había preferido. | Before dinner, I had already preferred myself. |
| tú | te habías preferido | Antes de llegar, tú ya te habías preferido. | Before arriving, you had already preferred yourself. |
| él/ella/usted | se había preferido | Antes del anuncio, él ya se había preferido. | Before the announcement, he had already preferred himself. |
| nosotros/nosotras | nos habíamos preferido | Antes de comenzar el juego, nosotros ya nos habíamos preferido. | Before the game started, we had already preferred ourselves. |
| vosotros/vosotras | os habíais preferido | Antes de salir, vosotros ya os habíais preferido. | Before leaving, you all had already preferred yourselves. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | se habían preferido | Antes de la decisión, ellos ya se habían preferido. | Before the decision, they had already preferred themselves. |
Preferirse Conjugation Simple Future Tense – Futuro Simple
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | me preferiré | Mañana me preferiré más que hoy. | Tomorrow I will prefer myself more than today. |
| tú | te preferirás | Uno de estos días te preferirás y lo entenderás. | One of these days you will prefer yourself, and you’ll understand. |
| él/ella/usted | se preferirá | Ella se preferirá cuando sepa todo lo que puede lograr. | She will prefer herself when she knows all that she can achieve. |
| nosotros/nosotras | nos preferiremos | Nos preferiremos a nosotros mismos después de nuestra charla. | We will prefer ourselves after our talk. |
| vosotros/vosotras | os preferiréis | Os preferiréis más después de superar estos retos. | You all will prefer yourselves more after overcoming these challenges. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | se preferirán | Se preferirán más después de conocerse mejor. | They will prefer themselves more after getting to know each other better. |
Preferirse Spanish Conjugation Future Perfect Tense – Futuro Perfecto
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | me habré preferido | Para mañana, me habré preferido a la lista de invitados. | By tomorrow, I will have preferred myself on the guest list. |
| tú | te habrás preferido | Cuando regreses, te habrás preferido para el nuevo puesto. | When you return, you will have preferred yourself for the new position. |
| él/ella/usted | se habrá preferido | Para el viernes, él se habrá preferido para liderar el proyecto. | By Friday, he will have preferred himself to lead the project. |
| nosotros/as | nos habremos preferido | Nos habremos preferido para participar en la competencia. | We will have preferred ourselves to participate in the competition. |
| vosotros/as | os habréis preferido | Para el final del día, os habréis preferido para la asignación especial. | By the end of the day, you all will have preferred yourselves for the special assignment. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | se habrán preferido | Se habrán preferido para las becas antes de junio. | They will have preferred themselves for the scholarships by June. |
Preferirse Conjugation Simple Conditional Tense – Condicional Simple
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | me preferiría | Si pudiera, me preferiría en otro lugar. | If I could, I would prefer myself elsewhere. |
| tú | te preferirías | ¿Te preferirías viviendo en la ciudad? | Would you prefer yourself living in the city? |
| él/ella/usted | se preferiría | Ella se preferiría trabajando en un proyecto más creativo. | She would prefer herself working on a more creative project. |
| nosotros/nosotras | nos preferiríamos | Nos preferiríamos en una casa más grande. | We would prefer ourselves in a bigger house. |
| vosotros/vosotras | os preferiríais | ¿Os preferiríais en un trabajo más flexible? | Would you guys prefer yourselves in a more flexible job? |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | se preferirían | Se preferirían en un clima más cálido. | They would prefer themselves in a warmer climate. |
Conjugate Preferirse in Spanish: Conditional Perfect Tense – Condicional Compuesto
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | me habría preferido | Si hubiera tenido opción, me habría preferido en esa situación. | If I had had a choice, I would have preferred myself in that situation. |
| tú | te habrías preferido | Si te hubieran dado la oportunidad, te habrías preferido para el proyecto. | If they had given you the opportunity, you would have preferred yourself for the project. |
| él/ella/usted | se habría preferido | Ella dijo que se habría preferido si hubiera sabido más al respecto. | She said she would have preferred herself if she had known more about it. |
| nosotros/nosotras | nos habríamos preferido | Nos habríamos preferido para realizar la tarea si supiéramos que era tan difícil. | We would have preferred ourselves to do the task if we had known it was so difficult. |
| vosotros/vosotras | os habríais preferido | Si hubierais conocido las implicaciones, os habríais preferido para representar al grupo. | If you had known the implications, you would have preferred yourselves to represent the group. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | se habrían preferido | Afirmaron que se habrían preferido para el papel principal de no ser por su timidez. | They claimed they would have preferred themselves for the lead role if it weren’t for their shyness. |
Preferirse Conjugation Imperative Tense – Imperativo
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| (tú) | préferete | Préferete en esta situación. | Prefer yourself in this situation. |
| (usted) | prefierase | Prefiérase frente a las dificultades. | Prefer yourself in the face of difficulties. |
| (nosotros) | prefirámonos | Prefirámonos cuando tengamos que elegir. | Let’s prefer ourselves when we have to choose. |
| (vosotros) | preferios | Preferios en vuestras decisiones. | Prefer yourselves in your decisions. |
| (ustedes) | prefieranse | Prefiéranse siempre en la vida. | Always prefer yourselves in life. |
Preferirse Subjunctive Conjugation
Preferirse Subjunctive Conjugation Present Tense – Subjuntivo Presente
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | me prefiera | Espero que yo me prefiera. | I hope that I prefer myself. |
| tú | te prefieras | Quiero que tú te prefieras. | I want you to prefer yourself. |
| él/ella/usted | se prefiera | Es importante que él se prefiera. | It’s important that he prefers himself. |
| nosotros/nosotras | nos prefiramos | Ojalá que nos prefiramos siempre. | Hopefully, we always prefer ourselves. |
| vosotros/vosotras | os prefiráis | Deseo que vosotros os prefiráis. | I wish that you all prefer yourselves. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | se prefieran | Es bueno que ellos se prefieran. | It’s good that they prefer themselves. |
Preferirse Conjugation Present Perfect Subjunctive – Subjuntivo Pretérito Perfecto
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | me haya preferido | Espero que yo me haya preferido quedarme | I hope that I have preferred to stay |
| Tú | te hayas preferido | Ojalá que tú te hayas preferido venir | I hope that you have preferred to come |
| Él/Ella | se haya preferido | Dudo que él se haya preferido ir solo | I doubt that he has preferred to go alone |
| Nosotros | nos hayamos preferido | Es bueno que nosotros nos hayamos preferido | It’s good that we have preferred ourselves |
| Vosotros | os hayáis preferido | Quiero que vosotros os hayáis preferido | I want you all to have preferred yourselves |
| Ellos/Ellas | se hayan preferido | No parece que ellos se hayan preferido | It doesn’t seem like they have preferred themselves |
Preferirse Conjugation Imperfect Subjunctive – Subjuntivo Pretérito Imperfecto
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | me prefiriera | Si yo me prefiriera, no estaría en esta situación. | If I preferred myself, I wouldn’t be in this situation. |
| tú | te prefirieras | Sería mejor si tú te prefirieras un poco más. | It would be better if you preferred yourself a little more. |
| él/ella/usted | se prefiriera | Si él se prefiriera, tomaría decisiones diferentes. | If he preferred himself, he would make different decisions. |
| nosotros/nosotras | nos prefiriéramos | Si nosotros nos prefiriéramos, celebraríamos nuestros logros. | If we preferred ourselves, we would celebrate our accomplishments. |
| vosotros/vosotras | os prefirierais | Deseo que vosotros os prefirierais y pudierais ver vuestro valor. | I wish you all preferred yourselves and could see your value. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | se prefirieran | Sería ideal que ellos se prefirieran más a sí mismos. | It would be ideal if they preferred themselves more. |
Preferirse Pluperfect Subjunctive Conjugation – Subjuntivo Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | me hubiera preferido | Si me hubiera preferido, todo sería distinto. | If I had preferred myself, everything would be different. |
| tú | te hubieras preferido | ¿Y si te hubieras preferido a ti mismo antes? | And if you had preferred yourself first? |
| él/ella/usted | se hubiera preferido | Sería mejor si él se hubiera preferido. | It would be better if he had preferred himself. |
| nosotros/as | nos hubiéramos preferido | Nos hubiéramos preferido en otra situación. | We would have preferred ourselves in another situation. |
| vosotros/as | os hubierais preferido | Si os hubierais preferido, las cosas cambiarían. | If you had preferred yourselves, things would change. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | se hubieran preferido | Ellos se hubieran preferido antes que a nadie. | They would have preferred themselves before anyone else. |
Preferirse Conjugation Future Subjunctive – Subjuntivo Futuro
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Sentence | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | me preferiere | Si yo me preferiere, haría otro intento. | If I were to prefer myself, I would try again. |
| tú | te prefirieres | Si tú te prefirieres, encontrarás la felicidad. | If you were to prefer yourself, you would find happiness. |
| él/ella | se prefiriere | Si ella se prefiriere, se elegiría sin dudar. | If she were to prefer herself, she would choose herself without hesitation. |
| nosotros | nos prefiriéremos | Si nosotros nos prefiriéremos, viviríamos diferente. | If we were to prefer ourselves, we would live differently. |
| vosotros | os prefiriereis | Si vosotros os prefiriereis, tomaríais mejores decisiones. | If you all were to prefer yourselves, you would make better decisions. |
| ellos | se prefirieren | Si ellos se prefirieren, se salvarán. | If they were to prefer themselves, they will save themselves. |
Practice Test For Conjugating Preferirse in Spanish
-
Yo me ___ a la comida italiana.
A) prefiero
B) prefieres
C) prefiere
D) prefieren -
Tú te ___ más cómodo con amigos cercanos.
A) prefiero
B) prefieres
C) prefiere
D) prefieren -
Él se ___ el café al té.
A) prefiero
B) prefieres
C) prefiere
D) prefieren -
Nosotros nos ___ quedarnos en casa los fines de semana.
A) prefiero
B) prefieres
C) prefiere
D) preferimos -
Vosotros os ___ el cine a la playa.
A) prefiero
B) prefieres
C) prefiere
D) preferís -
Ellos se ___ levantar temprano.
A) prefiero
B) prefieres
C) prefiere
D) prefieren -
Yo me ___ (Past Simple) una novela a una película.
A) preferí
B) preferiste
C) preferió
D) preferimos -
Tú te ___ (Past Simple) ir de vacaciones en verano.
A) preferí
B) preferiste
C) preferió
D) preferimos -
Él se ___ (Past Simple) los deportes extremos.
A) preferí
B) preferiste
C) preferió
D) preferimos -
Nosotros nos ___ (Past Simple) visitar museos.
A) preferí
B) preferiste
C) preferió
D) preferimos -
Vosotros os ___ (Past Simple) montar en bicicleta.
A) preferí
B) preferiste
C) preferió
D) preferisteis -
Ellos se ___ (Past Simple) la tranquilidad del campo.
A) preferí
B) preferiste
C) preferió
D) prefirieron -
Yo me ___ (Future Simple) vivir en una ciudad pequeña.
A) preferiré
B) preferirás
C) preferirá
D) preferiremos -
Tú te ___ (Future Simple) siempre trabajar por tu cuenta.
A) preferiré
B) preferirás
C) preferirá
D) preferiremos -
Él se ___ (Future Simple) retirar joven.
A) preferiré
B) preferirás
C) preferirá
D) preferirán -
Nosotros nos ___ (Future Simple) dedicarnos a la enseñanza.
A) preferiré
B) preferirás
C) preferirá
D) preferiremos -
Vosotros os ___ (Future Simple) mudar a otro país.
A) preferiré
B) preferirás
C) preferirá
D) preferiréis -
Ellos se ___ (Future Simple) casarse en la primavera.
A) preferiré
B) preferirás
C) preferirá
D) preferirán -
¿Cómo se dice “Nosotras nos preferimos cuidar nuestro jardín” en primera persona del singular? (Present Simple)
A) Me prefiero cuidar nuestro jardín.
B) Me prefieres cuidar nuestro jardín.
C) Me prefiere cuidar nuestro jardín.
D) Me prefieren cuidar nuestro jardín. -
Selecciona la forma correcta del verbo “preferirse” en tercera persona del plural, en futuro simple.
A) Se preferirán
B) Se preferirás
C) Se preferirá
D) Se preferiremos
Answers:
1. A) prefiero
2. B) prefieres
3. C) prefiere
4. D) preferimos
5. D) preferís
6. D) prefieren
7. A) preferí
8. B) preferiste
9. C) preferió
10. D) preferimos
11. D) preferisteis
12. D) prefirieron
13. A) preferiré
14. B) preferirás
15. C) preferirá
16. D) preferiremos
17. D) preferiréis
18. D) preferirán
19. A) Me prefiero cuidar nuestro jardín.
20. A) Se preferirán
This definitive guide on how to conjugate preferirse in Spanish is designed for learners at all levels. Whether you’re a beginner eager to master the basics or an advanced learner polishing your grammar, this article is tailored to cover every angle of preferirse conjugation. With a meticulous approach, we’ve distilled key insights into the most searched-for aspects of conjugating ‘preferirse,’ ensuring that no stone is left unturned.
In this comprehensive exploration, we delve into the preferirse conjugation present, where you’ll discover how to correctly use preferirse in the present tense, laying the foundation for expressing current actions and states. We then transition into the past with preferirse preterite and preferirse conjugation preterite, guiding you through the nuances of recounting completed actions. For those intricate narratives, preferirse preterite conjugation will sharpen your storytelling, ensuring you convey past events with accuracy.
Venturing into the subjunctive mood, our guide on preferirse subjunctive illuminates how to express desires, doubts, and hypotheticals with preferirse, adding depth to your conversations and writings. And for those looking to master every tense, our sections on preferirse conditional, preferirse imperative, and preferirse infinitive usage will refine your command of Spanish, enabling you to navigate future possibilities, give commands, and utilize preferirse in its most versatile form.
By weaving through these phrases, our article stands as a beacon for learners and educators alike, promising a well-rounded mastery of preferirse. So, whether you’re drafting an email, engaging in conversation, or penning a narrative, let this guide be your trusted companion in conquering the conjugation of “preferirse” across all its forms.
Final Words
In conclusion, mastering how to conjugate preferirse in Spanish is a pivotal aspect of gaining proficiency in the language. This reflexive verb not only broadens one’s vocabulary but also enhances their ability to articulate preferences and desires in a nuanced manner. The journey of understanding its conjugation across different tenses and moods is essential for anyone looking to communicate effectively and authentically in Spanish.
The effort to conjugate preferirse in Spanish is well rewarded. It opens up new avenues for expression, allowing learners to navigate social interactions with greater ease and confidence. This verb, integral to expressing likes and dislikes, is a cornerstone in the construction of meaningful and personalized conversations. It is through such detailed aspects of language learning that one can truly connect with the culture and people of the Spanish-speaking world.
Finally, the process of learning to conjugate preferirse reflects the broader challenge and beauty of mastering Spanish. It encourages learners to engage deeply with the mechanics of the language, fostering a sense of achievement and progression. As students wrestle with the nuances of this verb, they also develop a more intuitive understanding of Spanish grammar as a whole, laying a solid foundation for advanced proficiency and the ability to express oneself with clarity and precision.