VerbyGo

Spanish verb guide

Preparar conjugation and meaning

Learn what this verb means, compare its verified forms and continue into VerbyGo practice where an exact learning path is available.

Regular-AR verbNon-reflexive
Meaning
to prepare
Pattern
Regular -AR verb
Gerund
preparando
Past participle
preparado

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.

prepararpreparofor yo

Conjugation guide

Present forms

Present forms

Present

Use the present forms of preparar for current situations, routines and actions that happen regularly.

SubjectPreparar
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.

SubjectPreparar
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.

SubjectPreparar
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.

SubjectPreparar
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.

SubjectPreparar
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.

SubjectPreparar
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.

SubjectPreparar
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.

SubjectPreparar
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.

SubjectPreparar
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.

SubjectPreparar
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.

SubjectPreparar
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.

SubjectPreparar
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.

SubjectPreparar
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.

SubjectPreparar
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.

SubjectPreparar
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.

SubjectPreparar
tú prepara
usted prepare
nosotros / nosotras preparemos
vosotros / vosotras preparad
ustedes preparen

Commands

Negative commands

Use no with the matching command form of preparar.

SubjectPreparar
tú no prepares
usted no prepare
nosotros / nosotras no preparemos
vosotros / vosotras no preparéis
ustedes no preparen

Verified context

Examples with preparar

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.