Querer and Preferir: Present-Tense E-to-IE Changes

Querer and Preferir: Present-Tense E-to-IE Changes

In this lesson, you will learn two very useful Spanish verbs: querer — to want and preferir — to prefer. Both have an e-to-ie stem change in most present-tense forms.

You already know the useful expression Quiero… — I want…. Now you will learn the complete present-tense pattern and compare it with preferir.

What an e-to-ie stem change means

In many present-tense forms, the e in the verb stem changes to ie.

• querer — to want → quiero — I want
• preferir — to prefer → prefiero — I prefer

The regular present-tense endings are still added, but the stem changes in the forms where the change occurs.

Present tense of querer

Subject	Querer	English
yo — I	quiero — I want	I want
tú — you	quieres — you want	you want
él / ella / usted — he / she / you	quiere — wants / you want	he wants / she wants / you want
nosotros / nosotras — we	queremos — we want	we want
vosotros / vosotras — you all	queréis — you all want	you all want
ellos / ellas / ustedes — they / you all	quieren — they want / you all want	they want / you all want

The e-to-ie change appears in quiero, quieres, quiere, and quieren. It does not appear in queremos or queréis.

The querer pattern

Notice the contrast:

• quiero — I want
• quieres — you want
• quiere — he / she wants; you want
• queremos — we want
• queréis — you all want
• quieren — they want; you all want

Nosotros / nosotras and vosotros / vosotras keep the original e in the stem.

Using querer with a noun

Use querer + noun when you want a thing.

• Quiero un café. — I want a coffee.
• Quieres agua. — You want water.
• Quiere una mesa. — He / She wants a table.
• Queremos comida. — We want food.
• Quieren dos cafés. — They want two coffees.

The form of querer changes according to the subject.

Using querer with an infinitive

Use querer + infinitive when you want to do something.

• Quiero estudiar español. — I want to study Spanish.
• Quieres leer. — You want to read.
• Quiere viajar. — He / She wants to travel.
• Queremos comer. — We want to eat.
• Quieren escuchar música. — They want to listen to music.

The first verb is conjugated. The second verb stays in the infinitive.

Asking what someone wants

A useful question is ¿Qué quieres? — What do you want?

Person A: ¿Qué quieres? — What do you want?

Person B: Quiero un café. — I want a coffee.

To ask about an activity, use:

¿Qué quieres hacer? — What do you want to do?

Person A: ¿Qué quieres hacer? — What do you want to do?

Person B: Quiero leer. — I want to read.

Present tense of preferir

Subject	Preferir	English
yo — I	prefiero — I prefer	I prefer
tú — you	prefieres — you prefer	you prefer
él / ella / usted — he / she / you	prefiere — prefers / you prefer	he prefers / she prefers / you prefer
nosotros / nosotras — we	preferimos — we prefer	we prefer
vosotros / vosotras — you all	preferís — you all prefer	you all prefer
ellos / ellas / ustedes — they / you all	prefieren — they prefer / you all prefer	they prefer / you all prefer

The e-to-ie change appears in prefiero, prefieres, prefiere, and prefieren. It does not appear in preferimos or preferís.

The preferir pattern

• prefiero — I prefer
• prefieres — you prefer
• prefiere — he / she prefers; you prefer
• preferimos — we prefer
• preferís — you all prefer
• prefieren — they prefer; you all prefer

The stem-change pattern is parallel to querer.

Using preferir with a noun

Use preferir + noun when you prefer one thing or option.

• Prefiero el café. — I prefer coffee.
• Prefieres el té. — You prefer tea.
• Prefiere la música. — He / She prefers music.
• Preferimos el parque. — We prefer the park.
• Prefieren los restaurantes pequeños. — They prefer small restaurants.

Using preferir with an infinitive

Use preferir + infinitive when you prefer doing an activity.

• Prefiero leer. — I prefer reading.
• Prefieres caminar. — You prefer walking.
• Prefiere escuchar música. — He / She prefers listening to music.
• Preferimos cocinar. — We prefer cooking.
• Prefieren viajar. — They prefer traveling.

As with querer, the second verb stays in the infinitive.

Comparing two options with preferir

You can use preferir to choose between two options.

• Prefiero el café al té. — I prefer coffee to tea.
• Prefiero leer a ver la televisión. — I prefer reading to watching television.
• Preferimos caminar a bailar. — We prefer walking to dancing.

The pattern helps you state which option you choose over another.

Asking what someone prefers

Use ¿Qué prefieres? — What do you prefer?

Person A: ¿Qué prefieres? — What do you prefer?

Person B: Prefiero el café. — I prefer coffee.

You can also ask about two familiar options:

¿Prefieres leer o escuchar música? — Do you prefer reading or listening to music?

Person A: ¿Prefieres leer o escuchar música? — Do you prefer reading or listening to music?

Person B: Prefiero escuchar música. — I prefer listening to music.

Comparing querer and preferir

Querer expresses what you want. Preferir expresses which option you like better.

• Quiero un café. — I want a coffee.
• Prefiero el café. — I prefer coffee.
• Quiero leer. — I want to read.
• Prefiero leer. — I prefer reading.

The meanings are related, but they are not identical.

Keeping nosotros and vosotros unchanged

The most important form contrast is the lack of stem change in nosotros / nosotras and vosotros / vosotras.

• queremos — we want
• queréis — you all want
• preferimos — we prefer
• preferís — you all prefer

Do not change these forms to ie.

Recognizing the stem-change forms quickly

Compare the singular and plural forms:

• quiero — I want
• queremos — we want
• prefiero — I prefer
• preferimos — we prefer

Hearing the ie sound can help you recognize many of the stem-changing forms.

Using querer and preferir in a short conversation

Person A: ¿Qué quieres hacer? — What do you want to do?

Person B: Quiero caminar. — I want to walk.

Person A: ¿Prefieres caminar o leer? — Do you prefer walking or reading?

Person B: Prefiero caminar. — I prefer walking.

This exchange distinguishes a general desire from a choice between options.

Talking about different people

You can use the full conjugation to describe other people’s choices.

• Ana quiere leer. — Ana wants to read.
• Carlos quiere escuchar música. — Carlos wants to listen to music.
• Ana prefiere leer. — Ana prefers reading.
• Carlos prefiere escuchar música. — Carlos prefers listening to music.
• Ana y Carlos quieren viajar. — Ana and Carlos want to travel.
• Ana y Carlos prefieren caminar. — Ana and Carlos prefer walking.

A practical form-selection method

When you use querer or preferir in the present tense, use this sequence:

1. Identify the subject.
2. Choose the correct present-tense ending.
3. Use the e-to-ie stem in yo, tú, él / ella / usted, and ellos / ellas / ustedes forms.
4. Keep the original e in nosotros / nosotras and vosotros / vosotras.
5. If another verb follows, keep that second verb in the infinitive.

From Querer and Preferir to Poder and Jugar

You can now use querer and preferir in the present tense, recognize their e-to-ie stem changes, and express what you want or prefer. The next lesson introduces poder and jugar, two more common verbs with present-tense vowel changes.