Prefer to do and prefer doing

You can use 'prefer to (do) ' or 'prefer -ing' to say what you prefer in general:
0 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.
0 I prefer this coat to the coat you were wearing yesterday.
0 I prefer driving to travelling by train .
but 0 I prefer to drive rather than travel by train.
0 Sarah 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 specific situation (not in general):
0 'Would you prefer tea or coffee?' 'Coffee, please.'
We say 'would prefer to do something' (not usually would prefer doing):
C 'Shall we go by train?' 'I'd prefer to drive.' (not I'd prefer driving)
0 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). We use would rather+ infinitive {without to).
Compare:

0 ,Sha ll we go by tram.
. 7 , { 'I'd prefer to drive.'
'I'd rat h er d nve.
. , (not to d nve
. )
0 'Would you rather have tea or coffee?' 'Coffee, please.'
The negative is 'I'd rather not (do somethingf:
0 I'm tired. I'd rather not go out this evening, if you don't mind.
0 'Do you want to go out this eveningt 'I'd rather not.'
We say 'would rather do something than do something else':
0 I'd rather stay at home tonight than go to the cinema.
I'd rather somebody did something
We say 'I'd rather you did someth ing' (not I'd rather you do). For example :
0 'Who's going to drive, you or me?' 'I'd rather you drove.' (= I would prefer this)
0 'Jack says he'll repair your bike tomorrow, OK?' 'I'd rather he did it today.'
0 Are you going to tell Anna w hat happened, or would you rather I told her?
In this structure we use the past {drove, did etc.), but the meaning is present not past.
Compare:
0 I'd rather make dinner now.
I'd rather you made dinner now. (not I'd rather you make)
I'd rather you didn't (do someth ing) = I'd prefer you not to do it:
0 I'd rather you didn't tell anyone what I said.
0 'Are you going to tell Anna what happened?' 'No. I'd rather she didn't know.'
0 'Shall I tell Ann a what happened ?' 'I'd rather you didn't.'

Would prefer_. Unit 58B Prefer (one t hing) to (anot her) ... Unit 1360
 . Unit
Exercises ~ . 59
Which do you prefer? Write sentences using 'I prefer (something) to (something else)'. Put the
verb into the correct form where necessary.
1 (drive I travel by train)
.P.r.~fey,....~r.~v.mg ... W....k~v.e4.i.ng
........ 1.... PH . t;r.~'- ................................... ..................................................................................................
2 (basketball I football)
I prefer .. . .. ........ ... .. . ............ __ ... ............ .. . ....... .
3 (go to the cinema I watch DVDs at home)
I .. ........... .... .......... ............... ..... ________ _______ to .............................................................................................. __ at home.
4 (be ve ry busy I have nothing to do)
I ....................... ----- .......................................................................................... .......................................................................... .
Now rewrite sentences 3 and 4 using the structure 'I prefer to (do something)'.
s _pre.f~ . ~ dx.~x-~...r.<Mt.l_ey_ . .tn.o.,n. tr.~veL P.y . Jr.w.~..... ........... ... ......................................... .... .. ... . ................ _...............
(1) ... '
6 (3) I prefer to ...... ........... . ........ .. .................... ............ ...... .. ....................................................................................................................................... ..
7 (4) ......... ..... . ........ ... ....... . . . ....... ....... ................. . . ....... ...... ...................................... ..................... ......................................

Complete the sentences. Sometimes you need one word, sometimes more.
A B

1 Shall we walk home?""'

2 Do you want to eat now?
3 Would you like to watch TV?
4 Do you want to go to a restaurant?
5 Let's leave now.
6 What about a game of tennis?
7 I think we shou ld decide now.
8 Would you like to sit down?
9 Do you want me to come with you?
'
Now use the same ideas to complete these sentences using than and rather than.
10 I'd rather g.~t ...... a taxi ..... fu~n . N.~ ....h9m. ~-............ .................................................... ......................................................................... .. ..
11 I'd prefer .. ........................... for a swim ................................................................................................................................................
12 I'd rather ............................... at home .... ..... .. .... ......................................................................................... .................. ..
13 I'd prefer ............................................... about it for a while .....................................................................................................................
14 I'd rather .................................................... some music ........................................................................................................................................ .

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

1 Are you going to make dinner or ..... W9.0 .l4: .. J:19lA.... t::~-~ .. ..l.... m.AA.~ U:: ....... ........................................................................ ?
2 Are you going to tell Ann a what happened or would you rather ....... .. .......................................................... ?
3 Are you going to do the shopping or ............................................................................................................................................................... ?
4 Are you going to phone Tanya or ................................ ......................................................................................................................... ?

Use your own ideas to complete these sentences.

1 'Shall I tell Anna what happened?' 'No, I'd rather she ..................... d..Uin't know. '
2 Do you want me to go now or wou ld you rather 1...... .... ........................ here ?
3 Do you want to go out this evening or would you rather ............... .... ........... at home?
4 This is a private matter. I'd rather you .......... . ............. ...... tell anybody else.
5 I don't want to make a decision without jack and Sue. I'd rather they ............ here.
6 A : Do you mind if I put some music on?
B: I'd rather you .................. .................... . I'm trying to study.

-+Add it ional exercises 27-28 (pages 318-19) 119

 UNIT 59
59.1
Example answers:
2 I prefer basketball to football.
3 I prefer going to the cinema to
watching DVDs at home.
3 I prefer being very busy to having
nothing to do.
5 I prefer to go to the cine ma rather
than watch DVDs at home.
6 I prefer to be very busy rather than
have nothing to do.

59.2
3 prefer
4 eat/stay
5 I'd rather (wait) I I'd prefer to (wait)
6 to go
7 I'd rather (think) I
I'd prefer to (think)
8 I'd prefer to stand.
9 go
11 I'd prefer to go for a swim rathe r
than play tennis.
12 I'd rather eat at home than go to a
restaurant.
13 I'd prefer to think about it for a while
rather than decide now.
14 I'd rather listen to some music than
watch TV.

59.3
2 (would you rather) I told her
3 would you rather I did it
4 would you rather I phoned her

59.4
2 stayed/remained/waited
3 stay
4 didn't
5 were
6 didn't