Prepararse Conjugation in Spanish

The Spanish verb prepararse means to get ready, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Prepararse means to get ready, and it is the reflexive partner of preparar: you prepare yourself for an exam, a trip, a party or a match. It takes para: prepararse para el examen. It is a daily verb, in school, sport and travel. Like every Spanish verb, prepararse 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 me preparo para el examen de mañana, and in the preterite you say me preparé con tiempo para la fiesta. 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: prepararse
  • English: to get ready
  • Verb type: regular -ar verb, reflexive
  • Ending: -ar
  • Gerund: preparando
  • Past participle: preparado
  • Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + preparado)
  • Reflexive pronouns: me, te, se, nos, os, se — one before every conjugated form, matching the person.

Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for prepararse, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Prepararse takes para: me preparo para el examen. Preparar without the pronoun prepares something else.

Full conjugation tables

Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for prepararse. 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 Pronoun Form
yo me preparo
tú te preparas
él/ella/Ud. se prepara
nosotros/as nos preparamos
vosotros/as os preparáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. se preparan

Preterite

Person Pronoun Form
yo me preparé
tú te preparaste
él/ella/Ud. se preparó
nosotros/as nos preparamos
vosotros/as os preparasteis
ellos/ellas/Uds. se prepararon

Imperfect

Person Pronoun Form
yo me preparaba
tú te preparabas
él/ella/Ud. se preparaba
nosotros/as nos preparábamos
vosotros/as os preparabais
ellos/ellas/Uds. se preparaban

Future

Person Pronoun Form
yo me prepararé
tú te prepararás
él/ella/Ud. se preparará
nosotros/as nos prepararemos
vosotros/as os prepararéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. se prepararán

Conditional

Person Pronoun Form
yo me prepararía
tú te prepararías
él/ella/Ud. se prepararía
nosotros/as nos prepararíamos
vosotros/as os prepararíais
ellos/ellas/Uds. se prepararían

Present perfect

Person Pronoun Form
yo me he preparado
tú te has preparado
él/ella/Ud. se ha preparado
nosotros/as nos hemos preparado
vosotros/as os habéis preparado
ellos/ellas/Uds. se han preparado

Pluperfect

Person Pronoun Form
yo me había preparado
tú te habías preparado
él/ella/Ud. se había preparado
nosotros/as nos habíamos preparado
vosotros/as os habíais preparado
ellos/ellas/Uds. se habían preparado

Future perfect

Person Pronoun Form
yo me habré preparado
tú te habrás preparado
él/ella/Ud. se habrá preparado
nosotros/as nos habremos preparado
vosotros/as os habréis preparado
ellos/ellas/Uds. se habrán preparado

Conditional perfect

Person Pronoun Form
yo me habría preparado
tú te habrías preparado
él/ella/Ud. se habría preparado
nosotros/as nos habríamos preparado
vosotros/as os habríais preparado
ellos/ellas/Uds. se habrían preparado

Present subjunctive

Person Pronoun Form
yo me prepare
tú te prepares
él/ella/Ud. se prepare
nosotros/as nos preparemos
vosotros/as os preparéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. se preparen

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Person Pronoun Form
yo me preparara
tú te prepararas
él/ella/Ud. se preparara
nosotros/as nos preparáramos
vosotros/as os prepararais
ellos/ellas/Uds. se prepararan

Imperative (affirmative)

Person Pronoun Form
tú te prepara
él/ella/Ud. se prepare
nosotros/as nos preparemos
vosotros/as os preparad
ellos/ellas/Uds. se preparen

Imperative (negative)

Person Pronoun Form
tú te prepares
él/ella/Ud. se prepare
nosotros/as nos preparemos
vosotros/as os preparéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. se preparen

Gerund and past participle

Form Spanish Use
Gerund preparando with estar for the progressive: estoy preparando (or me estoy preparando for this reflexive verb)
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 prepararse, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Me preparo para el examen de mañana. 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 prepararse, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, me preparé para el viaje a Madrid. 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 prepararse, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, me preparaba con tiempo para la fiesta. 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 prepararse, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, me prepararé para el partido del domingo. 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 prepararse, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Me prepararía para el examen de mañana 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 prepararse, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, me he preparado para el viaje a Madrid. 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 prepararse, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Me había preparado con tiempo para la fiesta 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 prepararse, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, me habré preparado para el partido del domingo. 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 prepararse, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Me habría preparado para el examen de mañana 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 prepararse, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él se prepare para el viaje a Madrid. 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 prepararse, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él se preparara con tiempo para la fiesta, 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 prepararse, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: Que se prepare para el partido del domingo. 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 prepararse, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No te prepares para el examen de mañana. 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 prepararse, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.

  1. Me preparo para el examen de mañana. — I get ready for tomorrow's exam.
  2. Se prepara para el viaje a Madrid. — He/she gets ready for the trip to Madrid.
  3. Ayer, me preparé con tiempo para la fiesta. — Yesterday, I got ready in good time for the party.
  4. Antes, nosotros nos preparábamos para el partido del domingo. — Before, we used to get ready for Sunday's match.
  5. Mañana, tú te prepararás para el examen de mañana. — Tomorrow, you will get ready for tomorrow's exam.
  6. Yo me prepararía para el viaje a Madrid si tuviera más tiempo. — I would get ready for the trip to Madrid if I had more time.
  7. Él se ha preparado con tiempo para la fiesta. — He has got ready in good time for the party.
  8. Espero que él se prepare para el partido del domingo. — I hope he gets ready for Sunday's match.
  9. Yo ya me había preparado para el examen de mañana antes de salir. — I had already got ready for tomorrow's exam before leaving.
  10. Ellos se preparaban para el viaje a Madrid cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to get ready for the trip to Madrid when they were young.

Common mistakes

  1. Wrong: Yo preparo para el examen de mañana. — Right: Yo me preparo para el examen de mañana. — Prepararse is reflexive, so the pronoun me is required: without it the verb means something else, or nothing at all.
  2. Wrong: Ayer yo preparo para el viaje a Madrid. — Right: Ayer yo preparé para el viaje a Madrid. — The present and the preterite are different tenses: preparo is happening now, while preparé is a finished action in the past. Use the preterite with ayer.
  3. Wrong: Treating prepararse and preparar as identical in every context. — Right: Prepararse means to get ready, while preparar means to prepare something else. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: prepararse fits sentences such as Me preparo para el examen de mañana, while preparar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
  4. Wrong: Yo soy preparado para el viaje a Madrid. — Right: Yo he preparado para el viaje a Madrid. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he preparado, has preparado, ha preparado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
  5. Wrong: De niño, yo preparé con tiempo para la fiesta todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo preparaba con tiempo para la fiesta 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 prepararse. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.

  1. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ para el examen de mañana. (present tense) A. me preparo B. te preparas C. se prepara D. nos preparamos

  2. Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ para el viaje a Madrid. (preterite) A. me preparé B. te preparaste C. nos preparamos D. se preparó

  3. Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ con tiempo para la fiesta. (imperfect) A. te preparabas B. se preparaba C. nos preparábamos D. me preparaba

  4. Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ para el partido del domingo. (future) A. nos prepararemos B. te prepararás C. me prepararé D. se preparará

  5. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ para el examen de mañana si pudiera. (conditional) A. me prepararía B. te prepararías C. se prepararía D. nos prepararíamos

  6. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ para el viaje a Madrid. (present subjunctive) A. me prepare B. te prepares C. nos preparemos D. se prepare

  7. Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ con tiempo para la fiesta, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. se preparara B. nos preparáramos C. me preparara D. te prepararas

  8. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ para el partido del domingo. (present perfect) A. se ha preparado B. nos hemos preparado C. me he preparado D. te has preparado

  9. Complete the command: No ___ para el examen de mañana. (negative imperative, tú) A. te prepares B. se prepare C. nos preparemos D. os preparéis

  10. Which is the gerund of prepararse, used with estar for the progressive? A. preparado B. preparo C. preparé D. preparando

Answer key

  1. me preparo — The yo present tense of prepararse is me preparo.
  2. se preparó — The él/ella/Ud. preterite of prepararse is se preparó.
  3. nos preparábamos — The nosotros/as imperfect of prepararse is nos preparábamos.
  4. te prepararás — The tú future of prepararse is te prepararás.
  5. me prepararía — The yo conditional of prepararse is me prepararía.
  6. se prepare — The él/ella/Ud. present subjunctive of prepararse is se prepare.
  7. me preparara — The yo imperfect subjunctive, -ra form of prepararse is me preparara.
  8. nos hemos preparado — The nosotros/as present perfect of prepararse is nos hemos preparado.
  9. te prepares — The negative tú imperative uses the present subjunctive form with no before it: te prepares.
  10. preparando — The gerund of prepararse is preparando: estoy preparando. The participle preparado is used with haber instead.

Frequently asked questions

What does prepararse mean in English?

Prepararse means to get ready. It is used in everyday situations such as Me preparo para el examen de mañana. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.

Is prepararse a reflexive verb?

Yes. Prepararse is reflexive, so it always takes a reflexive pronoun that matches the person: me, te, se, nos, os or se. For example, Me preparo para el examen de mañana and él se prepara para el viaje a Madrid. If you leave the pronoun out, the verb changes meaning or stops making sense.

What is the difference between prepararse and preparar?

Prepararse means to get ready, while preparar means to prepare something else. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use prepararse when you mean to get ready, as in Me preparo para el examen de mañana, and use preparar for to prepare something else. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.

How do I say “I get ready” in the past?

It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo me preparé para el viaje a Madrid. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo me preparaba con tiempo para la fiesta. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo me he preparado para el viaje a Madrid.

How do I practise prepararse?

Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the prepararse examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.

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