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Prefer. Would Rather

The document discusses how to use prefer and would prefer to express preferences in English. It explains that "prefer" is used to say what someone prefers in general, while "would prefer" is used to express preferences in a particular situation. It provides examples of different structures that can follow prefer, would prefer, and would rather, such as "I prefer X to Y", "I'd prefer to do X", and "I'd rather do X than Y". The document also discusses using "I'd rather you did X" to indicate wanting someone else to do something. It includes sample preference questions and answers to demonstrate the correct usage.

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Miriam Halpern
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204 views

Prefer. Would Rather

The document discusses how to use prefer and would prefer to express preferences in English. It explains that "prefer" is used to say what someone prefers in general, while "would prefer" is used to express preferences in a particular situation. It provides examples of different structures that can follow prefer, would prefer, and would rather, such as "I prefer X to Y", "I'd prefer to do X", and "I'd rather do X than Y". The document also discusses using "I'd rather you did X" to indicate wanting someone else to do something. It includes sample preference questions and answers to demonstrate the correct usage.

Uploaded by

Miriam Halpern
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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You can use "prefer to (do)" or "prefer -ing" to say what you prefer in general:

• I don't like cities. I prefer to live in the country OR I prefer livingin the country.

Study the differences in structure after prefer. We say:

 I prefer something to something else.

 I prefer to do something rather than (do) something else.

 I prefer doing something to doing something else.

• I prefer this coat to the coat you were wearing yesterday.


• I prefer driving to traveling by train.
but • I prefer to drive rather than travel by train.
• Ann prefers to live in the country rather than (live) in a city.

Would prefer (I'd prefer...)

We use "would prefer" to say what somebody wants in a particular situation (not in
general):

• "Would you prefer tea or coffee" "Coffee, please."

We say "would prefer to do" (not "doing"):

• "Shall we go by train?" "Well, I'd prefer to go by car. (not "I'd prefer going")
• I'd prefer to stay at home tonight rather than go to the cinema.

Would rather (I'd rather...)

Would rather (do) = would prefer (to do). After would rather we use the infinitive
without to.

Compare:

"I'd prefer to go by car."


• "Shall we go by train?"
"I'd rather go by car. (not to go)

• "Would you rather have tea or coffee" "Coffee, please."

The negative is "I'd rather not (do something)":


• I'm tired. I'd rather not go out this evening, if you don't mind.
• "Do you want to go out this evening" "I'd rather not."

Study the structure after would rather:


I'd rather do something than (do) something else.

• I'd rather stay at home tonight than go to the cinema.

I'd rather you did something

When you want somebody to do something, you can say "I'd rather you did
something":

• "Shall I stay here?" "I'd rather you came with us."


• "Shall I tell them the news?" "No. I'd rather they didn't know."
• "Shall I tell them or would you rather they didn't know?"

In this structure we use the past (came, did etc.), but the meaning is present or future,
not past.
Compare:

• I'd rather cook the dinner now.

but • I'd rather you cooked the dinner now. (not "I'd rather you cook")

The negative is "I'd rather you didn't...":


• I'd rather you didn't tell anyone what I said.
• "Do you mind if I smoke?" "I'd rather you didn't."
1) Running is more pleasant than swimming.
[ ]I prefer having run than having swim
[ ]I rather running than swimming
[ ]I prefer running to swimming

2) I don't really want to go riding.


[ ]I rather staying here with my friends
[ ]I'd rather stay here with my friends
[ ]I prefer to have to stay with my friends

3) I hate writing letters!


[ ]I prefer to send e-mails than to write letters
[ ]I rather to send e-mails than to write letters
[ ]I prefer to sending e-mails than to writing letters

4) I feel tired this evening.


[ ]I 'd prefer to go not to the theatre
[ ]I 'd prefer not to go to the theatre
[ ]I 'd rather going not to the theatre

5) Dogs are more faithful than cats.


[ ]I prefer dogs to cats
[ ]I prefer to having dogs to having cats
[ ]I rather have dogs to cats

6) Shall we go by plane? Well


[ ]I'd rather go by train
[ ]I prefer having train
[ ]I rather go by train

7) Do you mind if I tell you the truth? Humm!


[ ]I rather you not
[ ]I'd prefer you not doing
[ ]I'd rather you didn't

8) This course is really boring.


[ ]I'd prefer to be at home
[ ]I'd rather to be at home
[ ]I rather being at home

9) Do you like English food?


[ ]I prefer French food to English one
[ ]I rather French food to English one
[ ]I prefer to having French food than to having English one

10) Could you do the washing up?


[ ]I'd rather not!
[ ]I prefer to not!
[ ]I rather not!

ANSWERS:

1. I prefer running to swimming


2. I'd rather stay here with my friends
3. I prefer to send e-mails than to write letters
4. I 'd prefer not to go to the theatre
5. I prefer dogs to cats
6. I'd rather go by train
7. I'd rather you didn't
8. I'd prefer to be at home
9. I prefer French food to English one
10. I'd rather not!

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