Prever Conjugation in Spanish

The Spanish verb prever means to foresee, to predict, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Prever means to foresee or to predict, and it is used for foreseeing problems, predicting results and planning ahead. It follows the pattern of ver, with the present preveo, the preterite preví, the imperfect preveía and the irregular participle previsto. Like every Spanish verb, prever 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 preveo problemas antes de empezar, and in the preterite you say preví dificultades en 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: prever
  • English: to foresee, to predict
  • Verb type: irregular verb
  • Ending: -er
  • Gerund: previendo
  • Past participle: previsto
  • Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + previsto)

Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for prever, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Prever follows ver: the present is preveo, the preterite is preví, the imperfect is preveía, and the participle is previsto.

Full conjugation tables

Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for prever. 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 preveo
tú prevés
él/ella/Ud. prevé
nosotros/as prevemos
vosotros/as prevéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. prevén

Preterite

Person Form
yo preví
tú previste
él/ella/Ud. previó
nosotros/as previmos
vosotros/as previsteis
ellos/ellas/Uds. previeron

Imperfect

Person Form
yo preveía
tú preveías
él/ella/Ud. preveía
nosotros/as preveíamos
vosotros/as preveíais
ellos/ellas/Uds. preveían

Future

Person Form
yo preveré
tú preverás
él/ella/Ud. preverá
nosotros/as preveremos
vosotros/as preveréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. preverán

Conditional

Person Form
yo prevería
tú preverías
él/ella/Ud. prevería
nosotros/as preveríamos
vosotros/as preveríais
ellos/ellas/Uds. preverían

Present perfect

Person Form
yo he previsto
tú has previsto
él/ella/Ud. ha previsto
nosotros/as hemos previsto
vosotros/as habéis previsto
ellos/ellas/Uds. han previsto

Pluperfect

Person Form
yo había previsto
tú habías previsto
él/ella/Ud. había previsto
nosotros/as habíamos previsto
vosotros/as habíais previsto
ellos/ellas/Uds. habían previsto

Future perfect

Person Form
yo habré previsto
tú habrás previsto
él/ella/Ud. habrá previsto
nosotros/as habremos previsto
vosotros/as habréis previsto
ellos/ellas/Uds. habrán previsto

Conditional perfect

Person Form
yo habría previsto
tú habrías previsto
él/ella/Ud. habría previsto
nosotros/as habríamos previsto
vosotros/as habríais previsto
ellos/ellas/Uds. habrían previsto

Present subjunctive

Person Form
yo prevea
tú preveas
él/ella/Ud. prevea
nosotros/as preveamos
vosotros/as preveáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. prevean

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Person Form
yo previera
tú previeras
él/ella/Ud. previera
nosotros/as previéramos
vosotros/as previerais
ellos/ellas/Uds. previeran

Imperative (affirmative)

Person Form
tú prevé
él/ella/Ud. prevea
nosotros/as preveamos
vosotros/as preved
ellos/ellas/Uds. prevean

Imperative (negative)

Person Form
tú preveas
él/ella/Ud. prevea
nosotros/as preveamos
vosotros/as preveáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. prevean

Gerund and past participle

Form Spanish Use
Gerund previendo with estar for the progressive: estoy previendo
Past participle previsto with haber for the perfect tenses: he previsto

How to use each tense

Present indicative

Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of ver, with forms such as preveo in the present, preví in the preterite, preveía in the imperfect, and the participle previsto (entrevisto for entrever). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For prever, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Preveo problemas antes de empezar. 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. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of ver, with forms such as preveo in the present, preví in the preterite, preveía in the imperfect, and the participle previsto (entrevisto for entrever). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For prever, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, preví el resultado con antelación. 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. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of ver, with forms such as preveo in the present, preví in the preterite, preveía in the imperfect, and the participle previsto (entrevisto for entrever). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For prever, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, preveía dificultades en 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 prever, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, preveré cambios en el mercado. 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 prever, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Prevería problemas antes de empezar 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. This tense is irregular for this verb only because the past participle is previsto, not the regular form — the auxiliary haber is completely regular. For prever, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he previsto el resultado con antelación. 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. This tense is irregular for this verb only because the past participle is previsto, not the regular form — the auxiliary haber is completely regular. For prever, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había previsto dificultades en 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. This tense is irregular for this verb only because the past participle is previsto, not the regular form — the auxiliary haber is completely regular. For prever, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré previsto cambios en el mercado. 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. This tense is irregular for this verb only because the past participle is previsto, not the regular form — the auxiliary haber is completely regular. For prever, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría previsto problemas antes de empezar 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. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of ver, with forms such as preveo in the present, preví in the preterite, preveía in the imperfect, and the participle previsto (entrevisto for entrever). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For prever, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él prevea el resultado con antelación. 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. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of ver, with forms such as preveo in the present, preví in the preterite, preveía in the imperfect, and the participle previsto (entrevisto for entrever). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For prever, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él previera dificultades en 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. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of ver, with forms such as preveo in the present, preví in the preterite, preveía in the imperfect, and the participle previsto (entrevisto for entrever). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For prever, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Prevé cambios en el mercado! 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. This tense is irregular for this verb: it follows the pattern of ver, with forms such as preveo in the present, preví in the preterite, preveía in the imperfect, and the participle previsto (entrevisto for entrever). Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For prever, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No preveas problemas antes de empezar. 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 prever, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.

  1. Preveo problemas antes de empezar. — I foresee problems before starting.
  2. Prevé el resultado con antelación. — He/she foresees the result in advance.
  3. Ayer, preví dificultades en el viaje. — Yesterday, I foresaw difficulties on the trip.
  4. Antes, nosotros preveíamos cambios en el mercado. — Before, we used to foresee changes in the market.
  5. Mañana, tú preverás problemas antes de empezar. — Tomorrow, you will foresee problems before starting.
  6. Yo prevería el resultado con antelación si tuviera más tiempo. — I would foresee the result in advance if I had more time.
  7. Él ha previsto dificultades en el viaje. — He has foreseen difficulties on the trip.
  8. Espero que él prevea cambios en el mercado. — I hope he foresees changes in the market.
  9. Yo ya había previsto problemas antes de empezar antes de salir. — I had already foreseen problems before starting before leaving.
  10. Ellos preveían el resultado con antelación cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to foresee the result in advance when they were young.

Common mistakes

  1. Wrong: Yo prevé problemas antes de empezar. — Right: Yo preveo problemas antes de empezar. — The person matters: prevé is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is preveo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
  2. Wrong: Yo he prevido dificultades en el viaje. — Right: Yo he previsto dificultades en el viaje. — The past participle of prever is irregular: previsto, not prevido. Every perfect tense uses he previsto, había previsto and so on.
  3. Wrong: Treating prever and predecir as identical in every context. — Right: Prever means to foresee, to predict, while predecir means to predict. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: prever fits sentences such as Preveo problemas antes de empezar, while predecir belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
  4. Wrong: Yo soy previsto el resultado con antelación. — Right: Yo he previsto el resultado con antelación. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he previsto, has previsto, ha previsto. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
  5. Wrong: De niño, yo preví dificultades en el viaje todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo preveía dificultades en el viaje todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (preveía), not the preterite. The preterite (preví) is for one finished action.

Quiz: test yourself

Ten questions on prever. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.

  1. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ problemas antes de empezar. (present tense) A. preveo B. prevés C. prevé D. prevemos

  2. Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ el resultado con antelación. (preterite) A. preví B. previste C. previeron D. previó

  3. Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ dificultades en el viaje. (imperfect) A. preveías B. preveían C. preveíamos D. preveía

  4. Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ cambios en el mercado. (future) A. preveremos B. preverás C. preveré D. preverá

  5. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ problemas antes de empezar si pudiera. (conditional) A. prevería B. preverías C. preverían D. preveo

  6. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ el resultado con antelación. (present subjunctive) A. preveas B. preveamos C. preveo D. prevea

  7. Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ dificultades en el viaje, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. previéramos B. preveo C. previera D. previeras

  8. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ cambios en el mercado. (present perfect) A. han previsto B. hemos previsto C. he previsto D. has previsto

  9. Complete the command: ¡___ problemas antes de empezar! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. prevé B. prevea C. preveamos D. preved

  10. Which is the gerund of prever, used with estar for the progressive? A. previsto B. preveo C. preví D. previendo

Answer key

  1. preveo — The first-person present of prever is preveo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
  2. previó — The third-person preterite of prever is previó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
  3. preveíamos — The nosotros imperfect of prever is preveíamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
  4. preverás — The second-person future of prever is preverás.
  5. prevería — The first-person conditional of prever is prevería, the form for what would happen.
  6. prevea — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of prever is prevea.
  7. previera — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of prever is previera.
  8. hemos previsto — The nosotros present perfect of prever is hemos previsto: hemos + previsto.
  9. prevé — The affirmative tú imperative of prever is prevé.
  10. previendo — The gerund of prever is previendo: estoy previendo. The participle previsto is used with haber instead.

Frequently asked questions

What does prever mean in English?

Prever means to foresee, to predict. It is used in everyday situations such as Preveo problemas antes de empezar. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.

Is prever regular or irregular?

Prever is irregular in present, preterite, imperfect, present-subjunctive, imperfect-subjunctive, past-participle, present-perfect, pluperfect, future-perfect, conditional-perfect, imperative-affirmative, imperative-negative. The other tenses follow the regular pattern. Learn the irregular forms from the tables above rather than guessing them from the infinitive.

What is the difference between prever and predecir?

Prever means to foresee, to predict, while predecir means to predict. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use prever when you mean to foresee, to predict, as in Preveo problemas antes de empezar, and use predecir for to predict. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.

How do I say “I foresee” in the past?

It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo preví el resultado con antelación. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo preveía dificultades en el viaje. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he previsto el resultado con antelación.

How do I practise prever?

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

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