Quick answer
preparar · preparo, preparas, prepara, preparamos, preparáis, preparan
to prepare, to make. Fully regular, so the endings carry over to every other -ar verb.
Conjugation
| Person | Present | Preterite | Imperfect | Future |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | preparo | preparé | preparaba | prepararé |
| tú | preparas | preparaste | preparabas | prepararás |
| él / ella / usted | prepara | preparó | preparaba | preparará |
| nosotros | preparamos | preparamos | preparábamos | prepararemos |
| vosotros | preparáis | preparasteis | preparabais | prepararéis |
| ellos / ustedes | preparan | prepararon | preparaban | prepararán |
Orange marks a form you cannot guess from the rules.
| Non-finite | Form |
|---|---|
| gerund | preparando |
| past participle | preparado |
| imperative (tú) | prepara |
| subjunctive (yo) | prepare |
Which form to learn first
preparo la cena. In the kitchen it beats hacer and cocinar most of the time.
Where you will actually use it
Preparo la cena.I’m making dinner.
Me estoy preparando.I’m getting ready.
Preparé el examen durante un mes.I prepared for the exam for a month.
¿Te preparo un café?Shall I make you a coffee?
Todo está preparado.Everything is ready.
Prepárate, salimos en diez minutos.Get ready, we’re leaving in ten minutes.
Typical mistakes
Preparo para la cena.
Preparo la cena.
The meal is the direct object — no para in between.
Preparo para salir.
Me preparo para salir.
Getting yourself ready is reflexive: me preparo, te preparas.
Preparé por el examen.
Preparé el examen.
In Spain you prepare the exam itself; por would mean on its behalf.
Check yourself
___ para salir, dame cinco minutos.