Meaning and behavior
What does preparar mean?
Preparar means to prepare. VerbyGo classifies it as a regular -AR verb. It is non-reflexive.
Build from reliable parts
Principal forms
- Infinitive
- preparar
- Gerund
- preparando
- Past participle
- preparado
Regular -AR pattern
How this verb behaves
Preparar follows the regular -ar pattern in the four tenses shown here.
Conjugation guide
Present forms
Present forms
Present
Use the present forms of preparar for current situations, routines and actions that happen regularly.
| Subject | Preparar |
|---|---|
| yo | preparo |
| tú | preparas |
| él / ella / usted | prepara |
| nosotros / nosotras | preparamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | preparáis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | preparan |
Present forms
Present progressive
Use present estar with preparando for an action in progress now.
| Subject | Preparar |
|---|---|
| yo | estoy preparando |
| tú | estás preparando |
| él / ella / usted | está preparando |
| nosotros / nosotras | estamos preparando |
| vosotros / vosotras | estáis preparando |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | están preparando |
Present forms
Present perfect
Use present haber with preparado for a completed action connected to the present.
| Subject | Preparar |
|---|---|
| yo | he preparado |
| tú | has preparado |
| él / ella / usted | ha preparado |
| nosotros / nosotras | hemos preparado |
| vosotros / vosotras | habéis preparado |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | han preparado |
Present forms
Present perfect continuous
Use present haber, estado and preparando to emphasize an activity continuing into the present.
| Subject | Preparar |
|---|---|
| yo | he estado preparando |
| tú | has estado preparando |
| él / ella / usted | ha estado preparando |
| nosotros / nosotras | hemos estado preparando |
| vosotros / vosotras | habéis estado preparando |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | han estado preparando |
Conjugation guide
Past forms
Past forms
Preterite
Use the preterite when the action of preparar is presented as completed in the past.
| Subject | Preparar |
|---|---|
| yo | preparé |
| tú | preparaste |
| él / ella / usted | preparó |
| nosotros / nosotras | preparamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | preparasteis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | prepararon |
Past forms
Imperfect past
Use the imperfect for repeated or ongoing past uses of preparar, or for background information.
| Subject | Preparar |
|---|---|
| yo | preparaba |
| tú | preparabas |
| él / ella / usted | preparaba |
| nosotros / nosotras | preparábamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | preparabais |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | preparaban |
Past forms
Past perfect
Use imperfect haber with preparado for an action completed before another past point.
| Subject | Preparar |
|---|---|
| yo | había preparado |
| tú | habías preparado |
| él / ella / usted | había preparado |
| nosotros / nosotras | habíamos preparado |
| vosotros / vosotras | habíais preparado |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | habían preparado |
Conjugation guide
Future and conditional
Future and conditional
Simple future
Use the future forms of preparar for predictions, promises and future statements.
| Subject | Preparar |
|---|---|
| yo | prepararé |
| tú | prepararás |
| él / ella / usted | preparará |
| nosotros / nosotras | prepararemos |
| vosotros / vosotras | prepararéis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | prepararán |
Future and conditional
Future perfect
Use future haber with preparado for an action that will be complete before a future point.
| Subject | Preparar |
|---|---|
| yo | habré preparado |
| tú | habrás preparado |
| él / ella / usted | habrá preparado |
| nosotros / nosotras | habremos preparado |
| vosotros / vosotras | habréis preparado |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | habrán preparado |
Future and conditional
Simple conditional
Use the conditional forms of preparar for hypothetical or tactful statements.
| Subject | Preparar |
|---|---|
| yo | prepararía |
| tú | prepararías |
| él / ella / usted | prepararía |
| nosotros / nosotras | prepararíamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | prepararíais |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | prepararían |
Future and conditional
Conditional perfect
Use conditional haber with preparado for a hypothetical completed past action.
| Subject | Preparar |
|---|---|
| yo | habría preparado |
| tú | habrías preparado |
| él / ella / usted | habría preparado |
| nosotros / nosotras | habríamos preparado |
| vosotros / vosotras | habríais preparado |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | habrían preparado |
Conjugation guide
Subjunctive forms
Subjunctive forms
Present subjunctive
Use these forms when a current wish, reaction, doubt or another trigger requires the subjunctive.
| Subject | Preparar |
|---|---|
| yo | prepare |
| tú | prepares |
| él / ella / usted | prepare |
| nosotros / nosotras | preparemos |
| vosotros / vosotras | preparéis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | preparen |
Subjunctive forms
Perfect subjunctive
Use present-subjunctive haber with preparado for a completed action in a present subjunctive context.
| Subject | Preparar |
|---|---|
| yo | haya preparado |
| tú | hayas preparado |
| él / ella / usted | haya preparado |
| nosotros / nosotras | hayamos preparado |
| vosotros / vosotras | hayáis preparado |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | hayan preparado |
Subjunctive forms
Imperfect subjunctive
Use these forms for past subjunctive contexts and hypothetical structures; the equivalent -se series is also accepted where supplied.
| Subject | Preparar |
|---|---|
| yo | prepararaAlso accepted: preparase |
| tú | prepararasAlso accepted: preparases |
| él / ella / usted | prepararaAlso accepted: preparase |
| nosotros / nosotras | preparáramosAlso accepted: preparásemos |
| vosotros / vosotras | prepararaisAlso accepted: preparaseis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | prepararanAlso accepted: preparasen |
Subjunctive forms
Past perfect subjunctive
Use imperfect-subjunctive haber with preparado for an unreal or earlier completed past action.
| Subject | Preparar |
|---|---|
| yo | hubiera preparadoAlso accepted: hubiese preparado |
| tú | hubieras preparadoAlso accepted: hubieses preparado |
| él / ella / usted | hubiera preparadoAlso accepted: hubiese preparado |
| nosotros / nosotras | hubiéramos preparadoAlso accepted: hubiésemos preparado |
| vosotros / vosotras | hubierais preparadoAlso accepted: hubieseis preparado |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | hubieran preparadoAlso accepted: hubiesen preparado |
Conjugation guide
Commands
Commands
Affirmative commands
Choose the affirmative command of preparar that matches the person being addressed.
| Subject | Preparar |
|---|---|
| tú | prepara |
| usted | prepare |
| nosotros / nosotras | preparemos |
| vosotros / vosotras | preparad |
| ustedes | preparen |
Commands
Negative commands
Use no with the matching command form of preparar.
| Subject | Preparar |
|---|---|
| tú | no prepares |
| usted | no prepare |
| nosotros / nosotras | no preparemos |
| vosotros / vosotras | no preparéis |
| ustedes | no preparen |
Verified context
Examples with preparar
Ella me preparó una tarta.
She baked me a cake.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FRSe preparó la cena él solo.
He prepared supper by himself.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FRElla misma preparó la cena.
She cooked the dinner herself.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FR
Quick answers
Preparar FAQ
What does preparar mean?
Preparar means to prepare.
Is preparar regular or irregular?
Preparar is a regular -AR verb.
What is the gerund of preparar?
The gerund of preparar is preparando.
What is the past participle of preparar?
The past participle of preparar is preparado.
How is preparar conjugated in the present?
The verified public subject set is preparo, preparas, prepara, preparamos, preparan.
How is preparar conjugated in the preterite?
The verified public subject set is preparé, preparaste, preparó, preparamos, prepararon.
Created by Alejandro Ruiz, an experienced Spanish tutor.
