Precaver Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb precaver means to take precautions, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Precaver means to take precautions or to foresee and prevent, and it is a formal verb for careful planning: precaver los riesgos, precaverse del frío. It is often used reflexively as precaverse, and its preterite third person uses y: precavió. Like every Spanish verb, precaver changes its ending for each person and tense, and this page gives you the complete picture: every tense, every person, the gerund and the past participle, all from the verified conjugation tables. For example, in the present tense you say precavo los riesgos antes del viaje, and in the preterite you say precaví los gastos del mes. Work through the tables below, read the notes for each tense, and then test yourself with the examples, the common mistakes and the quiz at the end of the page.
Quick facts
- Infinitive: precaver
- English: to take precautions
- Verb type: regular -er verb
- Ending: -er
- Gerund: precaviendo
- Past participle: precavido
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + precavido)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for precaver, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Precaver is a -ver verb: the preterite third person is precavió and the gerund is precaviendo, with y.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for precaver. The imperfect subjunctive is shown in its -ra forms; the -se forms use the same stem. For reflexive verbs, the pronoun column shows the reflexive pronoun that goes before each form.
Present indicative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | precavo |
| tú | precaves |
| él/ella/Ud. | precave |
| nosotros/as | precavemos |
| vosotros/as | precavéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | precaven |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | precaví |
| tú | precaviste |
| él/ella/Ud. | precavió |
| nosotros/as | precavimos |
| vosotros/as | precavisteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | precavieron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | precavía |
| tú | precavías |
| él/ella/Ud. | precavía |
| nosotros/as | precavíamos |
| vosotros/as | precavíais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | precavían |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | precaveré |
| tú | precaverás |
| él/ella/Ud. | precaverá |
| nosotros/as | precaveremos |
| vosotros/as | precaveréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | precaverán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | precavería |
| tú | precaverías |
| él/ella/Ud. | precavería |
| nosotros/as | precaveríamos |
| vosotros/as | precaveríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | precaverían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he precavido |
| tú | has precavido |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha precavido |
| nosotros/as | hemos precavido |
| vosotros/as | habéis precavido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han precavido |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había precavido |
| tú | habías precavido |
| él/ella/Ud. | había precavido |
| nosotros/as | habíamos precavido |
| vosotros/as | habíais precavido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían precavido |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré precavido |
| tú | habrás precavido |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá precavido |
| nosotros/as | habremos precavido |
| vosotros/as | habréis precavido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán precavido |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría precavido |
| tú | habrías precavido |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría precavido |
| nosotros/as | habríamos precavido |
| vosotros/as | habríais precavido |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían precavido |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | precava |
| tú | precavas |
| él/ella/Ud. | precava |
| nosotros/as | precavamos |
| vosotros/as | precaváis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | precavan |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | precaviera |
| tú | precavieras |
| él/ella/Ud. | precaviera |
| nosotros/as | precaviéramos |
| vosotros/as | precavierais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | precavieran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | precave |
| él/ella/Ud. | precava |
| nosotros/as | precavamos |
| vosotros/as | precaved |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | precavan |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | precavas |
| él/ella/Ud. | precava |
| nosotros/as | precavamos |
| vosotros/as | precaváis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | precavan |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | precaviendo | with estar for the progressive: estoy precaviendo |
| Past participle | precavido | with haber for the perfect tenses: he precavido |
How to use each tense
Present indicative
Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For precaver, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Precavo los riesgos antes del viaje. Learn the present forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Preterite
Use the preterite for finished actions with a clear end, often with ayer, el año pasado or anoche. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For precaver, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, precaví el peligro con tiempo. Learn the preterite forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperfect
Use the imperfect for background, habits and actions in progress in the past, often with de niño, antes or mientras. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For precaver, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, precavía los gastos del mes. Learn the imperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Future
Use the future for plans, predictions and promises, often with mañana, el año que viene or pronto. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For precaver, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, precaveré las consecuencias de la decisión. Learn the future forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Conditional
Use the conditional for polite requests, hypotheticals and what would happen, often with si clauses. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For precaver, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Precavería los riesgos antes del viaje si pudiera. Learn the conditional forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Present perfect
Use the present perfect for recent actions and experiences, often with hoy, esta semana or ya. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For precaver, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he precavido el peligro con tiempo. Learn the present perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Pluperfect
Use the pluperfect when one past action happened before another past action. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For precaver, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había precavido los gastos del mes antes de salir. Learn the pluperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Future perfect
Use the future perfect for something that will already be finished by a future time. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For precaver, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré precavido las consecuencias de la decisión. Learn the future perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Conditional perfect
Use the conditional perfect for what would have happened under different conditions. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For precaver, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría precavido los riesgos antes del viaje con más tiempo. Learn the conditional perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Present subjunctive
Use the present subjunctive after expressions of wish, doubt, emotion and hope, such as espero que or quiero que. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For precaver, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él precava el peligro con tiempo. Learn the present subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
Use the imperfect subjunctive after past wishes and in si clauses about the past, and note the -ra forms shown here; the -se forms use the same stem. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For precaver, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él precaviera los gastos del mes, todo cambiaría. Learn the imperfect subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperative (affirmative)
Use the affirmative imperative for direct commands, instructions and invitations. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For precaver, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Precave las consecuencias de la decisión! Learn the affirmative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperative (negative)
Use the negative imperative, always with no, to tell someone not to do something. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For precaver, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No precavas los riesgos antes del viaje. Learn the negative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with precaver, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Precavo los riesgos antes del viaje. — I take precautions the risks before the trip.
- Precave el peligro con tiempo. — He/she takes precautions the danger in time.
- Ayer, precaví los gastos del mes. — Yesterday, I took precautions the month's expenses.
- Antes, nosotros precavíamos las consecuencias de la decisión. — Before, we used to take precautions the consequences of the decision.
- Mañana, tú precaverás los riesgos antes del viaje. — Tomorrow, you will take precautions the risks before the trip.
- Yo precavería el peligro con tiempo si tuviera más tiempo. — I would take precautions the danger in time if I had more time.
- Él ha precavido los gastos del mes. — He has taken precautions the month's expenses.
- Espero que él precava las consecuencias de la decisión. — I hope he takes precautions the consequences of the decision.
- Yo ya había precavido los riesgos antes del viaje antes de salir. — I had already taken precautions the risks before the trip before leaving.
- Ellos precavían el peligro con tiempo cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to take precautions the danger in time when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo precave los riesgos antes del viaje. — Right: Yo precavo los riesgos antes del viaje. — The person matters: precave is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is precavo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Ayer yo precavo el peligro con tiempo. — Right: Ayer yo precaví el peligro con tiempo. — The present and the preterite are different tenses: precavo is happening now, while precaví is a finished action in the past. Use the preterite with ayer.
- Wrong: Treating precaver and prevenir as identical in every context. — Right: Precaver means to take precautions, while prevenir means to prevent. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: precaver fits sentences such as Precavo los riesgos antes del viaje, while prevenir belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy precavido el peligro con tiempo. — Right: Yo he precavido el peligro con tiempo. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he precavido, has precavido, ha precavido. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo precaví los gastos del mes todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo precavía los gastos del mes todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (precavía), not the preterite. The preterite (precaví) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on precaver. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ los riesgos antes del viaje. (present tense) A. precavo B. precaves C. precave D. precavemos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ el peligro con tiempo. (preterite) A. precaví B. precaviste C. precavimos D. precavió
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ los gastos del mes. (imperfect) A. precavías B. precavo C. precavíamos D. precavía
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ las consecuencias de la decisión. (future) A. precaveremos B. precaverás C. precaveré D. precaverá
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ los riesgos antes del viaje si pudiera. (conditional) A. precavería B. precaverías C. precaveríamos D. precavo
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ el peligro con tiempo. (present subjunctive) A. precavas B. precavamos C. precavo D. precava
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ los gastos del mes, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. precaviéramos B. precavo C. precaviera D. precavieras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ las consecuencias de la decisión. (present perfect) A. ha precavido B. hemos precavido C. he precavido D. has precavido
Complete the command: ¡___ los riesgos antes del viaje! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. precave B. precava C. precavamos D. precaved
Which is the gerund of precaver, used with estar for the progressive? A. precavido B. precavo C. precaví D. precaviendo
Answer key
- precavo — The yo present tense of precaver is precavo.
- precavió — The él/ella/Ud. preterite of precaver is precavió.
- precavíamos — The nosotros/as imperfect of precaver is precavíamos.
- precaverás — The tú future of precaver is precaverás.
- precavería — The yo conditional of precaver is precavería.
- precava — The él/ella/Ud. present subjunctive of precaver is precava.
- precaviera — The yo imperfect subjunctive, -ra form of precaver is precaviera.
- hemos precavido — The nosotros/as present perfect of precaver is hemos precavido.
- precave — The affirmative tú imperative of precaver is precave.
- precaviendo — The gerund of precaver is precaviendo: estoy precaviendo. The participle precavido is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does precaver mean in English?
Precaver means to take precautions. It is used in everyday situations such as Precavo los riesgos antes del viaje. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is precaver regular or irregular?
Precaver is a fully regular -er verb, so every tense follows the standard endings for its class. Once you know the regular pattern, you can produce every form on this page, including precavo in the present and precaví in the preterite.
What is the difference between precaver and prevenir?
Precaver means to take precautions, while prevenir means to prevent. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use precaver when you mean to take precautions, as in Precavo los riesgos antes del viaje, and use prevenir for to prevent. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I take precautions” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo precaví el peligro con tiempo. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo precavía los gastos del mes. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he precavido el peligro con tiempo.
How do I practise precaver?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the precaver examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Precaver in the present tense — the full present-tense table for precaver.
- Precaver examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for precaver.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Proceder conjugation — another -er verb to compare with precaver.
- Pretender conjugation — another -er verb to compare with precaver.
- Proveer conjugation — another -er verb to compare with precaver.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.