Why is it prefiere not prefieres?

Tamara C.A1Kwiziq community member

Why is it prefiere not prefieres?


 It says ' Do you prefer to wait sitting or standing' and I had to fill in the gap for prefer/preferir.


 ' Usted prefiere esperar de pie o sentado?' 

I don't understand how prefiere is the answer and not prefieres


Asked 10 months ago
InmaKwiziq Head of Spanish, Native Spanish TeacherCorrect answer

Hola Tamara

This is because in the sentence you have the subject "Usted" meaning "you" in a formal way, and for this the conjugation you need is the one without the -s:  "prefiere". The conjugation for the usted form coincides with the 3rd person singular "él / ella" (he/she). 

If the text was saying "¿Tú ...... esperar de pie o sentado?" then you need "¿Tú prefieres esperar....?

I hope this clarified it.

Saludos

Tamara C.A1Kwiziq community member

Thank you so much! This was very helpful. Thanks 

Tamara C. asked:

Why is it prefiere not prefieres?


 It says ' Do you prefer to wait sitting or standing' and I had to fill in the gap for prefer/preferir.


 ' Usted prefiere esperar de pie o sentado?' 

I don't understand how prefiere is the answer and not prefieres


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