Preparar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb preparar means to prepare, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Preparar means to prepare, and it covers preparing food, preparing for an exam, preparing a trip and getting a room ready. It is a fully regular -ar verb and one of the most useful verbs for daily life, school and work. Like every Spanish verb, preparar 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 preparo la cena para toda la familia, and in the preterite you say preparé la maleta para el viaje. 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: preparar
- English: to prepare
- Verb type: regular -ar verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: preparando
- Past participle: preparado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + preparado)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for preparar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Preparar is fully regular: preparé, preparaba, prepararé. Prepararse, with the pronoun, means to get yourself ready.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for preparar. 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 | preparo |
| tú | preparas |
| él/ella/Ud. | prepara |
| nosotros/as | preparamos |
| vosotros/as | preparáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | preparan |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | preparé |
| tú | preparaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | preparó |
| nosotros/as | preparamos |
| vosotros/as | preparasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | prepararon |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | preparaba |
| tú | preparabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | preparaba |
| nosotros/as | preparábamos |
| vosotros/as | preparabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | preparaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | prepararé |
| tú | prepararás |
| él/ella/Ud. | preparará |
| nosotros/as | prepararemos |
| vosotros/as | prepararéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | prepararán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | prepararía |
| tú | prepararías |
| él/ella/Ud. | prepararía |
| nosotros/as | prepararíamos |
| vosotros/as | prepararíais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | prepararían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he preparado |
| tú | has preparado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha preparado |
| nosotros/as | hemos preparado |
| vosotros/as | habéis preparado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han preparado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había preparado |
| tú | habías preparado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había preparado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos preparado |
| vosotros/as | habíais preparado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían preparado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré preparado |
| tú | habrás preparado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá preparado |
| nosotros/as | habremos preparado |
| vosotros/as | habréis preparado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán preparado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría preparado |
| tú | habrías preparado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría preparado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos preparado |
| vosotros/as | habríais preparado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían preparado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | prepare |
| tú | prepares |
| él/ella/Ud. | prepare |
| nosotros/as | preparemos |
| vosotros/as | preparéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | preparen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | preparara |
| tú | prepararas |
| él/ella/Ud. | preparara |
| nosotros/as | preparáramos |
| vosotros/as | prepararais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | prepararan |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | prepara |
| él/ella/Ud. | prepare |
| nosotros/as | preparemos |
| vosotros/as | preparad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | preparen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | prepares |
| él/ella/Ud. | prepare |
| nosotros/as | preparemos |
| vosotros/as | preparéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | preparen |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | preparando | with estar for the progressive: estoy preparando |
| Past participle | preparado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he preparado |
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 preparar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Preparo la cena para toda la familia. 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 preparar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, preparé el examen de mañana. 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 preparar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, preparaba la maleta para el viaje. 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 preparar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, prepararé la presentación del lunes. 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 preparar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Prepararía la cena para toda la familia 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 preparar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he preparado el examen de mañana. 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 preparar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había preparado la maleta para el viaje 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 preparar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré preparado la presentación del lunes. 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 preparar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría preparado la cena para toda la familia 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 preparar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él prepare el examen de mañana. 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 preparar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él preparara la maleta para el viaje, 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 preparar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Prepara la presentación del lunes! 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 preparar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No prepares la cena para toda la familia. 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 preparar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Preparo la cena para toda la familia. — I prepare dinner for the whole family.
- Prepara el examen de mañana. — He/she prepares tomorrow's exam.
- Ayer, preparé la maleta para el viaje. — Yesterday, I prepared the suitcase for the trip.
- Antes, nosotros preparábamos la presentación del lunes. — Before, we used to prepare Monday's presentation.
- Mañana, tú prepararás la cena para toda la familia. — Tomorrow, you will prepare dinner for the whole family.
- Yo prepararía el examen de mañana si tuviera más tiempo. — I would prepare tomorrow's exam if I had more time.
- Él ha preparado la maleta para el viaje. — He has prepared the suitcase for the trip.
- Espero que él prepare la presentación del lunes. — I hope he prepares Monday's presentation.
- Yo ya había preparado la cena para toda la familia antes de salir. — I had already prepared dinner for the whole family before leaving.
- Ellos preparaban el examen de mañana cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to prepare tomorrow's exam when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo prepara la cena para toda la familia. — Right: Yo preparo la cena para toda la familia. — The person matters: prepara is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is preparo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Vosotros preparais el examen de mañana. — Right: Vosotros preparáis el examen de mañana. — The vosotros present form carries a written accent: preparáis, not preparais. The accent marks the stressed vowel.
- Wrong: Treating preparar and cocinar as identical in every context. — Right: Preparar means to prepare, while cocinar means to cook, the kitchen synonym. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: preparar fits sentences such as Preparo la cena para toda la familia, while cocinar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy preparado el examen de mañana. — Right: Yo he preparado el examen de mañana. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he preparado, has preparado, ha preparado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo preparé la maleta para el viaje todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo preparaba la maleta para el viaje todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (preparaba), not the preterite. The preterite (preparé) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on preparar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ la cena para toda la familia. (present tense) A. preparo B. preparas C. prepara D. preparamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ el examen de mañana. (preterite) A. preparé B. preparaste C. prepararon D. preparó
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ la maleta para el viaje. (imperfect) A. preparabas B. preparaban C. preparábamos D. preparaba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ la presentación del lunes. (future) A. prepararemos B. prepararás C. prepararé D. preparará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ la cena para toda la familia si pudiera. (conditional) A. prepararía B. prepararías C. prepararían D. preparo
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ el examen de mañana. (present subjunctive) A. prepares B. preparemos C. preparo D. prepare
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ la maleta para el viaje, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. preparáramos B. preparo C. preparara D. prepararas
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ la presentación del lunes. (present perfect) A. han preparado B. hemos preparado C. he preparado D. has preparado
Complete the command: ¡___ la cena para toda la familia! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. prepara B. prepare C. preparemos D. preparad
Which is the gerund of preparar, used with estar for the progressive? A. preparado B. preparo C. preparé D. preparando
Answer key
- preparo — The first-person present of preparar is preparo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- preparó — The third-person preterite of preparar is preparó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- preparábamos — The nosotros imperfect of preparar is preparábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- prepararás — The second-person future of preparar is prepararás.
- prepararía — The first-person conditional of preparar is prepararía, the form for what would happen.
- prepare — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of preparar is prepare.
- preparara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of preparar is preparara.
- hemos preparado — The nosotros present perfect of preparar is hemos preparado: hemos + preparado.
- prepara — The affirmative tú imperative of preparar is prepara.
- preparando — The gerund of preparar is preparando: estoy preparando. The participle preparado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does preparar mean in English?
Preparar means to prepare. It is used in everyday situations such as Preparo la cena para toda la familia. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is preparar regular or irregular?
Preparar is a fully regular -ar 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 preparo in the present and preparé in the preterite.
What is the difference between preparar and cocinar?
Preparar means to prepare, while cocinar means to cook, the kitchen synonym. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use preparar when you mean to prepare, as in Preparo la cena para toda la familia, and use cocinar for to cook, the kitchen synonym. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I prepare” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo preparé el examen de mañana. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo preparaba la maleta para el viaje. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he preparado el examen de mañana.
How do I practise preparar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the preparar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Preparar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for preparar.
- Preparar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for preparar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Cortar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with preparar.
- Merendar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with preparar.
- Picar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with preparar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.