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FRENCH VERB

préparer

to prepare

  • #139 most used
  • Regular -er verb
  • Past participle: préparé
  • Present participle: préparant

Conjugation

Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.

Present

Présent · now, habits and facts

  1. je I prepare
  2. tu you prepare
  3. il, elle, on he/she prepares
  4. nous we prepare
  5. vous you prepare
  6. ils, elles they prepare

Past

Passé composé · finished actions

  1. je I prepared
  2. tu you prepared
  3. il, elle, on he/she prepared
  4. nous we prepared
  5. vous you prepared
  6. ils, elles they prepared

Imperfect

Imparfait · “used to” and “was …ing”

  1. je I used to prepare
  2. tu you used to prepare
  3. il, elle, on he/she used to prepare
  4. nous we used to prepare
  5. vous you used to prepare
  6. ils, elles they used to prepare

Future

Futur simple · plans; in speech, “je vais parler” is just as common

  1. je I will prepare
  2. tu you will prepare
  3. il, elle, on he/she will prepare
  4. nous we will prepare
  5. vous you will prepare
  6. ils, elles they will prepare

Conditional

Conditionnel · “would”, polite requests

  1. je I would prepare
  2. tu you would prepare
  3. il, elle, on he/she would prepare
  4. nous we would prepare
  5. vous you would prepare
  6. ils, elles they would prepare

Present subjunctive

Subjonctif présent · wishes, doubts, “il faut que …”

  1. je (that) I prepare
  2. tu (that) you prepare
  3. il, elle, on (that) he/she prepare
  4. nous (that) we prepare
  5. vous (that) you prepare
  6. ils, elles (that) they prepare

Imperative

Impératif · requests and orders

  1. tu prepare!
  2. nous prepare! (let’s)
  3. vous prepare! (plural, or formal)

How to use préparer

One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.

  1. Present

    Je prépare le dîner, tu mets la table ?

    I'm making dinner, will you set the table?

  2. Past

    J'ai préparé une tarte aux pommes pour ce soir.

    I made an apple tart for tonight.

  3. Imperfect

    Pendant qu'il préparait le café, je lisais le journal.

    While he made the coffee, I read the paper.

  4. Future

    Je préparerai mes valises demain soir.

    I'll pack my bags tomorrow evening.

  5. Conditional

    Tu préparerais la salade pendant que je fais les pâtes ?

    Could you make the salad while I do the pasta?

  6. Present subjunctive

    Il faut que je prépare mon entretien de lundi.

    I need to prepare for my interview on Monday.

  7. Imperative

    Préparez vos billets, le contrôleur arrive.

    Get your tickets ready, the inspector's coming.

Good to know

  • Se préparer is to get ready: je me prépare et j'arrive.

Where you hear préparer

The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.

French · Beginner Level 2

  • Je prépare mes cours le matin. I prepare my classes in the morning.
  • J'ai préparé un gâteau. I made a cake.
  • Je vais préparer le dîner. I'm going to make dinner.
12
A Day in My Life

Beginner Level 2 · je prépare

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When I Was Little

Beginner Level 2 · elle préparait

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Verbs like this one

The same pattern, on other verbs: regular -er verb.