Prefer In Spanish | Verb Essentials

Learning how to express preferences is a fundamental step in mastering any language. In Spanish, one of the most common and useful verbs for this purpose is ‘preferir’. It’s a verb that you’ll encounter frequently in everyday conversations, from ordering food to discussing hobbies.

Understanding ‘Preferir’

‘Preferir’ is a verb of preference, meaning it’s used to indicate that one thing is liked or chosen over another. It directly translates to “to prefer” in English. Like many Spanish verbs, its conjugation changes depending on the subject and tense.

The infinitive form is ‘preferir’. It belongs to the third conjugation of Spanish verbs, ending in ‘-ir’. This group of verbs has distinct patterns that are important to recognize.

Stem-Changing Verbs: A Key Concept

‘Preferir’ is a stem-changing verb, specifically an ‘e’ to ‘ie’ stem-changer. This means that in most of its present tense conjugations, the first ‘e’ in the stem (‘pref-‘) changes to ‘ie’. This is a crucial characteristic to remember when conjugating it.

For example, the stem change occurs in all forms except for ‘nosotros’ (we) and ‘vosotros’ (you all, informal in Spain).

Present Tense Conjugation of ‘Preferir’

Let’s look at how ‘preferir’ is conjugated in the present indicative tense. Understanding this is the bedrock for using the verb correctly.

• Yo prefiero (I prefer)
• Tú prefieres (You prefer – informal singular)
• Él/Ella/Usted prefiere (He/She/You prefer – formal singular)
• Nosotros/Nosotras preferimos (We prefer)
• Vosotros/Vosotras preferís (You all prefer – informal plural, mainly Spain)
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes prefieren (They/You all prefer – formal plural)

Notice how the ‘e’ to ‘ie’ stem change is present in ‘prefiero’, ‘prefieres’, ‘prefiere’, and ‘prefieren’. The ‘nosotros’ and ‘vosotros’ forms retain the original ‘e’ in the stem.

Using ‘Preferir’ with Nouns

When you want to express a preference for a noun, you simply use the conjugated form of ‘preferir’ followed by the noun. Remember to use the appropriate definite article (el, la, los, las) if the noun is specific.

For instance:

• Yo prefiero el café. (I prefer coffee.)
• Ella prefiere las manzanas. (She prefers apples.)
• Nosotros preferimos la pizza. (We prefer pizza.)

This structure is straightforward and mirrors how we express preferences for objects or items in English.

Using ‘Preferir’ with Infinitives

You can also use ‘preferir’ to express a preference for an action. In this case, it’s followed by the infinitive form of another verb.

Examples include:

• Él prefiere leer antes de dormir. (He prefers to read before sleeping.)
• Tú prefieres viajar en tren. (You prefer to travel by train.)
• Ustedes prefieren estudiar en casa. (You all prefer to study at home.)

This construction is incredibly useful for detailing activities you or others enjoy more than others.

Expressing Preferences Between Two Options

To compare two things or actions and state a preference, you use ‘preferir’ followed by the first option, then the conjunction ‘antes que’ or ‘a’, and finally the second option.

The choice between ‘antes que’ and ‘a’ can sometimes depend on regional usage and the type of elements being compared (nouns vs. infinitives).

• Using ‘antes que’:
• Prefiero el té antes que el café. (I prefer tea over coffee.)
• Prefiero salir antes que quedarme en casa. (I prefer to go out over staying home.)
• Using ‘a’:
• Prefiero el té al café. (I prefer tea to coffee. Note the contraction ‘al’ for ‘a el’.)
• Prefiero salir a quedarme en casa. (I prefer to go out than stay home.)

Both structures are grammatically correct and widely understood. ‘Antes que’ often feels slightly more emphatic when comparing distinct items or actions.

‘Preferir’ in Other Tenses

While the present tense is the most common, ‘preferir’ can be used in other tenses. The stem-changing rule generally applies to the same forms as in the present tense.

Consider the preterite tense (past simple):

• Yo preferí (I preferred)
• Tú preferiste (You preferred)
• Él/Ella/Usted prefirió (He/She/You preferred)
• Nosotros/Nosotras preferimos (We preferred)
• Vosotros/Vosotras preferisteis (You all preferred)
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes prefirieron (They/You all preferred)

In the preterite, the stem change occurs in the third person singular (‘prefirió’) and third person plural (‘prefirieron’).

Imperfect Tense of ‘Preferir’

The imperfect tense is used for ongoing or habitual actions in the past. ‘Preferir’ does not stem-change in the imperfect tense.

• Yo prefería (I used to prefer / I was preferring)
• Tú preferías (You used to prefer)
• Él/Ella/Usted prefería (He/She/You used to prefer)
• Nosotros/Nosotras preferíamos (We used to prefer)
• Vosotros/Vosotras preferíais (You all used to prefer)
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes preferían (They/You all used to prefer)

This tense is useful for describing past habits or states of preference that were not necessarily completed actions.

Subjunctive Mood with ‘Preferir’

‘Preferir’ is also frequently used in the subjunctive mood, especially when expressing desires, recommendations, or doubts about someone else’s preferences.

For example:

• Espero que prefieras el azul. (I hope you prefer blue.)
• No creo que prefiera ese libro. (I don’t think he/she prefers that book.)
• Te recomiendo que prefieras la opción más segura. (I recommend that you prefer the safer option.)

The stem-changing rule (‘e’ to ‘ie’) applies to the subjunctive conjugations as well.

Common Pitfalls and Clarifications

One common area of confusion for learners is distinguishing between ‘preferir’ and verbs like ‘gustar’ (to like) or ‘encantar’ (to love). While all express positive feelings, ‘preferir’ specifically denotes a choice between options.

Another point to clarify is the use of ‘preferir’ versus ‘querer’ (to want). ‘Querer’ is a more general expression of desire, whereas ‘preferir’ implies a comparison or a selection based on a higher degree of liking.

Verb	Meaning	Usage
Preferir	To prefer	Expressing a choice between two or more options.
Gustar	To like	Expressing general liking for something or someone.
Encantar	To love (things/activities)	Expressing a very strong liking for something.
Querer	To want	Expressing a general desire for something.

For instance, you might querer a new car, but you might preferir a red one over a blue one.

Practical Application: Ordering Food

A very common scenario where ‘preferir’ is used is when ordering food or drinks in a restaurant or café.

Imagine you are at a café:

• “¿Qué prefieres, té o café?” (What do you prefer, tea or coffee?)
• “Prefiero el café con leche, por favor.” (I prefer coffee with milk, please.)
• “¿Prefieren comer adentro o afuera?” (Do you all prefer to eat inside or outside?)

Mastering these simple phrases will significantly enhance your ability to navigate everyday social interactions in Spanish.

Beyond Basic Preferences

The concept of preference extends beyond simple likes. It can involve choices related to lifestyle, work, or personal values.

Consider these examples:

• Él prefiere trabajar desde casa. (He prefers to work from home.)
• Ella prefiere un estilo de vida más tranquilo. (She prefers a quieter lifestyle.)
• ¿Qué prefieres hacer este fin de semana? (What do you prefer to do this weekend?)

The versatility of ‘preferir’ allows for nuanced expression of personal choices and inclinations.

Tense	Yo Form	Él/Ella/Usted Form	Nosotros Form
Present Indicative	Prefiero	Prefiere	Preferimos
Preterite	Preferí	Prefirió	Preferimos
Imperfect	Prefería	Prefería	Preferíamos
Future	Preferiré	Preferirá	Preferiremos
Conditional	Preferiría	Preferiría	Preferiríamos

The future and conditional tenses also follow the standard conjugations for ‘-ir’ verbs, with ‘preferir’ maintaining its stem in these forms when not directly affected by a mood shift.