Stating Preferences (Review)

Prefer can be used to say what you prefer in general

I prefer motorcycles to cars

a) I prefer motorcycles to cars

Prefer + Noun + to + Noun b) I prefer riding on a motorcycle to riding in a car
Prefer + -ing verb + to + ing verb

Would Prefer can be used to express what someone wants (to do) in a particular situation

a) I would prefer to go by car

Would prefer + to + verb b) I would prefer going by car

Would prefer + ing verb

Or.. Id prefer to go by car Id prefer going by car

Would Prefer = Would Rather

Id prefer to go by car Id rather go by car Id prefer dancing to singing Id rather dance than sing

a) I would rather leave now Id rather leave now

Would Rather + Bare infinitive

Id rather not leave now

Would Rather + Not + Bare infinitive

b) Id rather listen to music than watch TV

Would Rather + Bare infinitive + Than + Bare infinitive c) Id rather have a motorcycle than a car

Would Rather Verb + Noun + Than + Noun

Would Rather Someone Did Something When you want someone else to do something, you can use Id rather you did / Id rather he did

a) Id rather cook dinner now Id rather he cooked dinner now b) Id rather stay home Id rather you stayed home Would rather + subject + past verb

Had Better has a meaning similar to Should. I should do something or its advisable for me to do something; if I dont do this something bad might happen.

a) Id better go now or Ill be late for work

b) Should I take the umbrella? Yes, youd better. It might rain c) Wed better study real hard or well fail the exam

d) Youd better not go to work today. You look really sick e) Are you going out tonight? Id better not. I have a lot of things to do

Rather Than means Instead of and is normally used in parallel structures. For example two ajectives, adverbs, nouns, infinitives or -ing forms.

a) Rather than lose precious time, I think we should go to bed b) Id decided to write rather than call/calling.

c) I prefer to go in August rather than in July