does preferir trigger subjuntive?

Question

When using the verb preferir to say that you prefer a person to be like.....is subjunctive needed?

Answer 1

I think you have two options:

Preferir + infinitive = Prefiero ir a la playa y no a la piscina.

Preferir + que + subjunctive = Prefiero que vayas a la playa y no a la piscina.

Answer 2

"Preferir" triggers subjunctive only if there is a change of subject.

Using Usarenzo's examples:

"I prefer to go to the beach" - there is one subject, so you do not use subjunctive: "Prefiero ir a la playa"

"I prefer that you go to the beach" - you have a change of subject, so you do need subjunctive: "Prefiero que vayas a la playa".

Verbs that indicate preference, desire or wanting follow this pattern: If there is a change of subject, you need the subjunctive; if there is no change of subject, use an infinitive.

Examples:

Quiero hablar. Quiero que hablen.

Desean comprarlo. Desean que lo compre ella.

Prefiero comer luego. Prefiero que comamos luego.

I hope these examples have helped.

They certainly help me! ...along with the clearly stated "rule"..or observation:) - Janice, Feb 17, 2011

Answer 3

When you prefer to do something, it is a statement about yourself and you can declare it so it is in the indicative.

When you pefer that someone else does something, you cannot declare that they will do it so it is in the subjunctive.

Thank you lazarus

Answer 4

It's not so much that Preferir triggers anything, but that in most ways it's used, it indicates influence - and that's the "I" in WEIRDO.

Influence triggers subjunctive.

Answer 5

Mountaingirl está muy cerca.

Se trata de oraciones compuestas: oración principal + oración subordinada.

Those are compound sentences : main clause + subordinate clause.

Cuando la oración principal lleva un verbo que expresan un deseo, como desear, querer, preferir, etc., en la oración subordinada el verbo va en subjuntivo. En las siguientes oraciones la oración subordinada está escrita en negritas:

(When in a compound sentence, the main clause includes verbs denoting a desire, such as want, like, dislike, prefer, and so on, the verb on the subordinate clause is conjugated in the subjunctive form. In the next sentences, the compound clause is written in bold letters

Quiero que vengas.

Deseo que tengas un buen fin de semana.

Espero que estés bien.

Prefiero que lo hagas tú.