The verb to prefer · Conjugation
Present Continuous of prefer
The answer: am / is / are preferring
A1
An action happening now, at the moment of speaking.
Quick answer
The Present Continuous of the verb to prefer is am / is / are preferring.
Example: I prefer tea (not I am preferring tea).
Full conjugation in the Present Continuous
| Pronoun | Form | Contraction |
|---|---|---|
| I | am preferring | I'm preferring |
| You | are preferring | You're preferring |
| He / She / It | is preferring | He's / She's / It's preferring |
| We | are preferring | We're preferring |
| You (pl.) | are preferring | You're preferring |
| They | are preferring | They're preferring |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. She studying ❌
The Present Continuous always has two parts: am, is or are + the -ing form. Without the helper verb, the sentence is wrong: say she is studying, I am studying.
2. I am knowing ❌
Some verbs describe a state, not an action: know, understand, want, need, like, love, believe, remember. They are not normally used in the continuous, even for right now: I know the answer, I don't understand. The verb prefer is one of them: say I prefer.
3. I am playing football every Saturday ❌
For habits and routines, use the Present Simple: I play football every Saturday. Use the Present Continuous only for now or for a short time: I am playing football right now.
Practice quiz
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Frequently asked questions
How do you conjugate prefer in the Present Continuous?+
The form is am, is or are + preferring. But prefer is a state verb: a verb for a thought, a feeling or something you have. State verbs are not normally used in the continuous. Say I prefer, not I am preferring.
When do you use the Present Continuous of prefer?+
Almost never. The verb prefer is a state verb. State verbs stay in the Present Simple, even for right now: I prefer, she prefers, not I am preferring.
What is the difference between I prefer and I am preferring?+
With prefer, use I prefer for now and for always. I am preferring is not normal English, because prefer is a state verb. Compare with an action verb: I play football every Saturday and I am playing football right now.
How do you make the negative and the question of prefer in the Present Continuous?+
With prefer, use the Present Simple: I don't prefer, Do you prefer…? With an action verb, the Present Continuous works like this: I'm not sleeping, Are you sleeping?
What is the -ing form of prefer?+
The -ing form of prefer is preferring. The last consonant is doubled: prefer → preferring. This often happens when a verb ends in one vowel + one consonant (like stop → stopping). You often see it after a preposition: without preferring.
Related pages: prefer Present Continuous
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Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/prefer/present-continuous
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.
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More forms of the verb to prefer are coming soon.