Prefiero pensar antes de contestar.

I prefer to think before answering.

Breakdown of Prefiero pensar antes de contestar.

• yo: I
• antes de: before
• preferir: to prefer
• contestar: to answer
• pensar: to think

Questions & Answers about Prefiero pensar antes de contestar.

Why do we use pensar in the infinitive form rather than pienso (the first person present)?

In Spanish, when a verb expresses a preference or desire (like prefiero), it’s typically followed by an infinitive. So you say Prefiero pensar (I prefer to think), not Prefiero pienso.

Why is it antes de contestar instead of something like antes de contestarlo or antes de conteste?

1. Antes de + infinitive means before doing something in a general sense, so antes de contestar translates to before answering.
2. You’d use a direct object pronoun (like lo in contestarlo) if you already had a specific object in mind (e.g., before answering it).
3. If you want a subjunctive clause, you use antes de que plus a conjugated verb (e.g., antes de que conteste), which creates a different structure meaning before he/she answers.

Could I say Me gustaría pensar antes de contestar instead of Prefiero pensar antes de contestar?

Yes, you could. Me gustaría (I would like) is simply another way of expressing a desire but in a more polite or tentative manner. Prefiero (I prefer) is more direct. Both are grammatically correct; it just depends on the nuance you want.

Is prefiero always followed by an infinitive?

When prefiero is directly followed by another verb in the same clause, yes, that verb stays in the infinitive (e.g., Prefiero comer, Prefiero salir, etc.). If you want to refer to a different subject, you might use prefiero que + subjunctive (e.g., Prefiero que él coma primero).

Why do we say antes de and not just antes in this sentence?

Antes by itself is an adverb meaning beforehand or earlier. To indicate before doing something, Spanish requires antes de followed by the infinitive. This is a set prepositional structure that can’t be omitted.

Is the verb prefiero in the subjunctive or indicative?

Prefiero is the first person singular present indicative of preferir. Its subjunctive form would be prefiera (e.g., Es normal que yo prefiera pensar antes de contestar). But in direct statements about one’s own preference, we use the indicative.