Preferir Conjugation in Portuguese
preferir means “to prefer” in English, and it is one of the first verbs Portuguese learners meet — it sits at number 169 in VerbFlow’s frequency list for Portuguese verbs. It means to prefer, and it is a stem-change verb: the present eu form is prefiro, with i, while the tu form keeps e — preferes, prefere, preferimos, preferis, preferem. Its pretérito perfeito is preferi, preferiste, preferiu, and its participle is preferido. It takes a direct object with no preposition. This page gives you the complete conjugation of preferir — every tense, every person, the gerund and the past participle — with notes, examples, common mistakes and a quiz. Here is the verb in a natural sentence: “Eu prefiro café todos os dias.” — “I prefer coffee.”
Quick facts
- Infinitive: preferir
- English: to prefer
- Verb type: Regular -ir verb
- Irregular in: none — regular in every tense
- Gerund: preferindo
- Present participle: preferente
- Past participle: preferido
- Auxiliary: ter (all perfect tenses are formed with ter + the past participle)
- Ending: -ir verbs; pattern ir in the verified tables
Pronunciation
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for preferir, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Learn the spelling of the forms first, and listen to a native speaker for the sounds rather than trusting an invented transcription. The forms below are the ones that matter: once you can read preferir in every tense, you can recognise it in speech even before you can pronounce every form perfectly.
Three things to remember about preferir
- It is regular: every form follows the ordinary -ir pattern, so once you know the stem you can build the whole table. The only work is learning the endings, not memorising exceptions.
- The perfect tenses use ter: the pretérito perfeito composto is formed with ter in the present plus the past participle preferido. The tables on this page give the participle in the masculine singular form, exactly as it appears in the verified dump; agreement with the subject is a separate step that depends on the sentence, not on the verb table.
- The gerund is preferindo, the present participle is preferente and the past participle is preferido: keep all three in mind as you read the tables, because the gerund appears in progressive constructions, the present participle appears as an adjective, and the past participle appears in every perfect tense. If you know those three forms and the present tense, you already know the skeleton of the whole conjugation.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from VerbFlow’s verified conjugation tables for preferir. Learn the present tense first, then the pretérito perfeito and the pretérito imperfeito, and add the remaining tenses one at a time.
Present indicative (presente)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | prefiro |
| tu | preferes |
| ele/ela | prefere |
| nós | preferimos |
| vós | preferis |
| eles/elas | preferem |
The present indicative (presente) is used for habits, facts and things happening now. For example: “Eu prefiro café todos os dias.” — “I prefer coffee”
Pretérito perfeito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | preferi |
| tu | preferiste |
| ele/ela | preferiu |
| nós | preferimos |
| vós | preferistes |
| eles/elas | preferiram |
The pretérito perfeito is used for completed actions in the past, especially one finished event. For example: “Eu preferi café ontem.” — “I preferred coffee”
Pretérito imperfeito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | preferia |
| tu | preferias |
| ele/ela | preferia |
| nós | preferíamos |
| vós | preferíeis |
| eles/elas | preferiam |
The pretérito imperfeito is used for ongoing or habitual actions in the past, and for background description. For example: “Eu preferia café antigamente.” — “I used to prefer coffee”
Pretérito mais-que-perfeito simples
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | preferira |
| tu | preferiras |
| ele/ela | preferira |
| nós | preferíramos |
| vós | preferíreis |
| eles/elas | preferiram |
The pretérito mais-que-perfeito simples is used for an action completed before another past action; in everyday speech the compound form with tinha is more common. For example: “Eu preferira café antes do jantar.” — “I had preferred coffee”
Futuro do presente
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | preferirei |
| tu | preferirás |
| ele/ela | preferirá |
| nós | preferiremos |
| vós | preferireis |
| eles/elas | preferirão |
The futuro do presente is used for what will happen, for predictions and for promises. For example: “Eu preferirei café amanhã.” — “I will prefer coffee”
Futuro do pretérito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | preferiria |
| tu | preferirias |
| ele/ela | preferiria |
| nós | preferiríamos |
| vós | preferiríeis |
| eles/elas | prefeririam |
The futuro do pretérito is used for what would happen, for polite requests and for hypothetical situations. For example: “Eu preferiria café um dia.” — “I would prefer coffee”
Pretérito perfeito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tenho preferido |
| tu | tens preferido |
| ele/ela | tem preferido |
| nós | temos preferido |
| vós | tendes preferido |
| eles/elas | têm preferido |
The pretérito perfeito composto is used for actions that started in the past and continue, or have been repeated, up to the present. For example: “Ele tem preferido café esta semana.” — “He has preferred coffee”
Pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tinha preferido |
| tu | tinhas preferido |
| ele/ela | tinha preferido |
| nós | tínhamos preferido |
| vós | tínheis preferido |
| eles/elas | tinham preferido |
The pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto is used for an action completed before another past action. For example: “Eu tinha preferido café antes do jantar.” — “I had preferred coffee”
Futuro do presente composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | terei preferido |
| tu | terás preferido |
| ele/ela | terá preferido |
| nós | teremos preferido |
| vós | tereis preferido |
| eles/elas | terão preferido |
The futuro do presente composto is used for what will have happened by a point in the future. For example: “Eu terei preferido café até amanhã.” — “I will have preferred coffee”
Futuro do pretérito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | teria preferido |
| tu | terias preferido |
| ele/ela | teria preferido |
| nós | teríamos preferido |
| vós | teríeis preferido |
| eles/elas | teriam preferido |
The futuro do pretérito composto is used for what would have happened in a different past. For example: “Eu teria preferido café ontem.” — “I would have preferred coffee”
Presente do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | prefira |
| tu | prefiras |
| ele/ela | prefira |
| nós | prefiramos |
| vós | prefirais |
| eles/elas | prefiram |
The presente do subjuntivo is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and opinions after que. For example: “É importante que eu prefira café.” — “It is important that I prefer coffee”
Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | preferisse |
| tu | preferisses |
| ele/ela | preferisse |
| nós | preferíssemos |
| vós | preferísseis |
| eles/elas | preferissem |
The pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo is used in the past for wishes and hypotheticals after que, and in se-clauses. For example: “Era importante que eu preferisse café.” — “It was important that I prefer coffee”
Futuro do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | preferir |
| tu | preferires |
| ele/ela | preferir |
| nós | preferirmos |
| vós | preferirdes |
| eles/elas | preferirem |
The futuro do subjuntivo is used after se and quando for a future possibility, where English would use the present. For example: “Se eu preferir café, é bom.” — “If I prefer coffee, that is good”
Imperativo (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | prefere |
| ele/ela | prefira |
| nós | prefiramos |
| vós | preferi |
| eles/elas | prefiram |
The affirmative imperative is used for direct commands and instructions. For example: “Prefere café!” — “Prefer coffee!”
Imperativo (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | não prefiras |
| ele/ela | não prefira |
| nós | não prefiramos |
| vós | não prefirais |
| eles/elas | não prefiram |
The negative imperative is used for prohibitions and negative commands. For example: “Não prefiras café.” — “Do not prefer coffee.”
Presente do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tenha preferido |
| tu | tenhas preferido |
| ele/ela | tenha preferido |
| nós | tenhamos preferido |
| vós | tenhais preferido |
| eles/elas | tenham preferido |
The presente do subjuntivo composto is used for a completed action in a subordinate clause expressing doubt, wish or emotion. For example: “É importante que eu tenha preferido café.” — “It is important that I have preferred coffee”
Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tivesse preferido |
| tu | tivesses preferido |
| ele/ela | tivesse preferido |
| nós | tivéssemos preferido |
| vós | tivésseis preferido |
| eles/elas | tivessem preferido |
The pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto is used for a completed action in a past subordinate clause. For example: “Era importante que eu tivesse preferido café.” — “It was important that I had preferred coffee”
Futuro do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tiver preferido |
| tu | tiveres preferido |
| ele/ela | tiver preferido |
| nós | tivermos preferido |
| vós | tiverdes preferido |
| eles/elas | tiverem preferido |
The futuro do subjuntivo composto is used after se for a completed future possibility. For example: “Se eu tiver preferido café, é bom.” — “If I have preferred coffee, that is good”
Gerund
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Gerund | preferindo |
The gerund is used for an action happening at the same time as another action, often with estar for the progressive. For example: “Preferindo café, aprendo muito.” — “While preferring coffee, I learn a lot.”
Present participle
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Present participle | preferente |
The present participle is used as an adjective, describing an ongoing action. For example, the participle preferente is used to describe something that is happening at the same time as the main action, much like an English -ing adjective. You will meet preferente more often as an adjective or a noun than as a verb form, so learn it as a word in its own right.
Past participle
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Past participle | preferido |
The past participle is used with an auxiliary to form the perfect tenses, and as an adjective. For example: “Eu tenho preferido café esta semana.” — “I have preferred coffee.”
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with preferir, covering different tenses and persons. Say each one aloud, then cover the Portuguese and try to produce it from the English.
- “Eu prefiro café todos os dias.” — “I prefer coffee”
- “Tu preferiste café ontem.” — “You preferred coffee”
- “Ele preferia café antigamente.” — “He used to prefer coffee”
- “Eu preferirei café amanhã.” — “I will prefer coffee”
- “Tu preferirias café um dia.” — “You would prefer coffee”
- “Ele tem preferido café esta semana.” — “He has preferred coffee”
- “Eu tinha preferido café antes do jantar.” — “I had preferred coffee”
- “Tu terás preferido café até amanhã.” — “You will have preferred coffee”
- “É importante que eu prefira café.” — “It is important that I prefer coffee”
- “Prefere café!” — “Prefer coffee!”
Common mistakes
1. Using the infinitive instead of a conjugated form
✗ Wrong: “Eu preferir café.”
✓ Right: “Eu prefiro café todos os dias.”
The infinitive preferir never takes a subject. After eu you need the conjugated present form prefiro.
2. Using the wrong person’s form
✗ Wrong: “Eu preferes café.”
✓ Right: “Eu prefiro café todos os dias.”
preferes is the tu form, not the eu form. Match the verb to the subject every time: eu goes with prefiro.
3. Using the present for a finished past action
✗ Wrong: “Eu prefiro café ontem.”
✓ Right: “Eu preferi café ontem.”
Ontem points to the past, so the present is wrong here. Use the pretérito perfeito preferi for a finished action yesterday.
4. Using the wrong auxiliary in the pretérito perfeito composto
✗ Wrong: “Eu sou preferido café.”
✓ Right: “Eu tenho preferido café esta semana.”
The pretérito perfeito composto of preferir is formed with ter plus the past participle preferido: the eu form is tenho preferido. Check the auxiliary in the table above before you build a perfect tense.
5. Using the indicative after a subjunctive trigger
✗ Wrong: “É importante que eu prefiro café.”
✓ Right: “É importante que eu prefira café.”
After é importante que Portuguese needs the subjunctive, so use prefira here, not the indicative prefiro.
6. Using the gerund instead of the past participle in a perfect tense
✗ Wrong: “Eu tenho preferindo café.”
✓ Right: “Eu tenho preferido café esta semana.”
The perfect tenses need the past participle preferido, not the gerund preferindo. The gerund belongs in progressive constructions, never after an auxiliary in a perfect tense.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on preferir. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
What is the eu form of preferir in the Present indicative (presente)?
- A) preferes
- B) prefiro
- C) prefere
- D) preferimos
What is the ele/ela form of preferir in the Pretérito perfeito?
- A) preferi
- B) preferiste
- C) preferiu
- D) preferimos
What is the nós form of preferir in the Pretérito imperfeito?
- A) preferia
- B) preferias
- C) preferíeis
- D) preferíamos
What is the tu form of preferir in the Futuro do presente?
- A) preferirás
- B) preferirei
- C) preferirá
- D) preferiremos
What is the eu form of preferir in the Futuro do pretérito?
- A) preferirias
- B) preferiria
- C) preferiríamos
- D) preferiríeis
What is the ele/ela form of preferir in the Pretérito perfeito composto?
- A) tenho preferido
- B) tens preferido
- C) tem preferido
- D) temos preferido
What is the ele/ela form of preferir in the Presente do subjuntivo?
- A) prefiras
- B) prefiramos
- C) prefirais
- D) prefira
What is the eu form of preferir in the Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo?
- A) preferisse
- B) preferisses
- C) preferíssemos
- D) preferísseis
What is the gerund of preferir?
- A) preferido
- B) preferindo
- C) preferir
- D) prefiro
What does preferir mean in English?
- A) to ask for
- B) to receive
- C) to prefer
- D) to pay
Answer key
- B) prefiro — the correct form is prefiro. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) preferiu — the correct form is preferiu. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) preferíamos — the correct form is preferíamos. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) preferirás — the correct form is preferirás. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) preferiria — the correct form is preferiria. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) tem preferido — the correct form is tem preferido. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) prefira — the correct form is prefira. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) preferisse — the correct form is preferisse. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) preferindo — the correct form is preferindo. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) to prefer — the correct form is to prefer. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
Frequently asked questions
What does preferir mean in English?
preferir means “to prefer”. It is a core everyday verb, so its present-tense forms are worth learning first.
Is preferir regular or irregular?
preferir is regular: it follows the ordinary -ir pattern in every tense. The gerund is preferindo and the past participle is preferido.
What are the gerund and past participle of preferir?
The gerund is preferindo — use it with estar for the progressive. The past participle is preferido — use it with ter for the perfect tenses, as in tenho preferido.
Which auxiliary does preferir take in the pretérito perfeito composto?
preferir takes ter in the pretérito perfeito composto: the eu form is tenho preferido. All seven compound tenses on this page are built with ter plus the past participle preferido.
How do I say “I prefer” in Portuguese?
Say “Eu prefiro café todos os dias.” — “I prefer coffee” The eu form of the present is prefiro, and it is the form you will use most often.
Related pages
- Full conjugation of preferir — every tense of preferir in one place.
- Preferir in the pretérito perfeito tense — the full table and usage rules for one tense.
- Preferir examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice questions for this verb.
- Portuguese pretérito perfeito tense guide — the full guide to the pretérito perfeito tense in Portuguese.
- Pedir conjugation — another everyday Portuguese verb.
- Abrir conjugation — another everyday Portuguese verb.
- Portuguese verbs — the full hub of Portuguese conjugation pages.
- VerbFlow home — all languages, tools and verb lists.
- Verb Conjugator — practise preferir with the interactive tool.
- Conjugation Chart Printer — practise preferir with the interactive tool.
- Tense Finder — practise preferir with the interactive tool.