Prefer and would rather

Prefer to do and prefer doing

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 living in the country.
Study the differences in structure after prefer. We say:
I prefer something to something else.
I prefer doing something to doing something else.
but I prefer to do something rather than (do) something else.
o I prefer this coat to the coat you were wearing yesterday.
• I prefer driving to travelling by train.
but • I prefer to drive rather than travel by train.
u 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:
J ‘I’d prefer to go by car.’
o ‘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.
o
‘Do you want to go out this evening?’ ‘I’d rather not.’
o
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.’
o
• 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.’
o

Prefer...to...
 UNIT
EXERCISES
58.1 Which do ou pre[er? Write sentences using ‘I prefer (something) to (something else)’. Put the
verb into the correct form where necessary.
1 (drive / travel by train) l prof r driving to travqllinq by t ra|n.
2 (tennis / football) I prefer .. ...
3 (phone people / write letters) I to
4 (go to the cinema / watch films on TV)

Now rewrite sentences 3 and 4 using the structure ‘I prefer (to do something)... ’.
s ib l prqfer to dr|ve rathqr tha n trayql by train.
6 (s) I prefer to
7 (4)

58.2 Write sentences using I’d prefer... or I’d rather... + one of the [ollowing:
eat at home get-e-taxi go alone go for a swim listen to some music
stand think about it for a while wait a few minutes

1 Shall we walk home? (poeder) l’d prefer Zo gel a taxi.

2 Do you want to eat now? (rather) l’d rasher wail ïi!! !at sr.
3 Shall we watch TV? (prefer)
4 What about a game of tennis? {rather )
5 Shall we leave now? (rather)
6 Do you want to go to a restaurant? (prefer)
7 I think we should decide now) (rather)
8 Would you like to sit down? (rather)
9 Do you want me to come with you? (prefer)

Now write sentences using than and rather than.

10 (get a taxi / walk home) I’d prefer fi get a taxi rather than waJk horne,
11 {go for a swim / play tennis) I’d rather
12 (wait a few minutes / leave now)
I’d rather
13 dt at home / go to a restaurant)
I
14 (think about it for a while / decide now)"““ ““ “ “ “ ““““““
I’d rather

58.3 Complete the sentences using would you rather I... .

1 Are you going to cook the dinner or .. ¥VOU III yOU rat ther l GOOkg6I i *
2 Are you going to tell Ann what happened or would you rather
3 Are you going to do the shopping or
4 Are you going to answer the phone or

58.4 Vee your own ideas to complete these sentences.

1 ‘Shall I tell Ann the news?’ ‘No, I’d rather she . dÏd H’t ... know.’
2 Do you want me to go now or would you rather I. ............................ here?
3 Do you want to go out this evening or would you rather ............................. at home?
4 This is a private letter addressed to me. I’d rather you ............................. read it.
5 It’s quite a nice house but I’d rather it ............................ a bit bigger.
6 ‘Do you mind if I turn on the radio?’ ‘I’d rather you I’m trying to study.’

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