Prefer and Would Rather

Área Lectura y Escritura

Resultados de aprendizaje
Conocer el uso y las diferencias del verbo ‘prefer’ y ‘would rather’.
Aplicar el verbo ‘prefer’ y ‘would rather’ de manera escrita.

Contenidos
1. Would rather
2. Prefer

Debo saber

- Verbos en infinitivo
Prefer and Would Rather
Prefer to 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.
- 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.
- 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):

- ‘Would you prefer tea or coffee?’ ‘Coffee, please.’

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We say ‘would prefer to do something’ (not doing):

- ‘Shall we go by train?’ ‘I’d prefer to drive’. (Not I’d prefer driving).

- I’d prefer to stay at home tonight rather than go to the cinema.

Would rather (I’d prefer …)

Would rather (do) = would prefer (to do). We use would rather + infinitive (without to).
Compare:

- ‘Shall we go by train?’ ‘I’d prefer to drive.’ / ‘I’d rather drive (not to drive)’
- ‘Would you rather have tea or coffee?’ ‘Coffee, please’.

The negatives 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.

We say ‘would 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

We say ‘I’d rather you did something’ (not I’d rather you do). For example:

- ‘Shall I stay here?’ ‘I’d rather you came with us’. (= I would prefer this)
- ‘I’ll repair your bike tomorrow, OK?’ ‘I’d rather you did it today.’
- ‘Are you going to tell them what happened?’ ‘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 not past.
Compare:

- 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 something) = I’d prefer you not do it:

- I’d rather you didn’t tell anyone what I said.

- ‘Shall I tell Linda what happened?’ ‘I’d rather you didn’t.

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Primera Edición – 2016
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 Exercises
1. Which do you prefer? Write sentences using ‘I prefer (something) to (something else): put
the verb into the correct form where necessary.

1. (drive / travel by train) I prefer driving to travelling by train.

2. (Basketball / football) I prefer ______________________________________________.
3. (phone people / send emails) I __________________ to ________________________.
4. (go to the cinema / watch videos at home) ___________________________________.

Now rewrite sentences 3 and 4 using the structure ‘I prefer to (do something):

5. (1) I prefer to drive rather than travel by train.

6. (3) I prefer to ____________________________________.
7. (4) _____________________________________________.

2. Write sentences using I’d prefer … and I’d rather … + the following:

Eat at home get a taxi go alone wait a few minutes listen to some music

Stand go for a swim wait till later think about it for a while.

1. Shall we walk home? (prefer) I’d prefer to get a taxi.

2. Do you want to eat now? (rather) I’d rather wait till later.
3. Would you like to watch TV? (rather) _____________________________________.
4. Do you want to go to a restaurant? (prefer) ________________________________.
5. Let’s leave now. (rather) ________________________________________________.
6. Shall we play tennis? (rather) _____________________________________________.
7. I think we should decide now. (prefer) _______________________________________.
8. Would you like to sit down? (rather) ________________________________________.
9. Do you want me to come with you? (prefer) __________________________________.

Now use the same ideas to complete these sentences using than and rather than.

10. I’d prefer to get a taxi rather than walk home.

11. I’d prefer to go for a swim ________________________________________________.
12. I’d rather eat at home ___________________________________________________.

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 13. I’d prefer to think about ir for a while _______________________________________.
14. I’d rather listen to some music ____________________________________________.

3. Complete the sentences using would you rather I …

1. Are you going to make dinner or would you rather I made it?
2. Are you going to tell Liz what happened or would you rather ____________________?
3. Are you going to do the shopping or ________________________________________?
4. Are you going to phone Diane or ___________________________________________?

4. Use your own ideas to complete these sentences.

1. ‘Shall I tell Ann the news? ‘No, I’d rather she didn’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. I don’t really like these shoes. I’d rather they ____________________ a different colour.
6. A: Do you mind if I turn on the radio?
B: I’d rather you __________________. I’m trying to study.

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Primera Edición – 2016
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 Key
1. Which do you prefer? Write sentences using ‘I prefer (something) to (something else)’.
Put the verb into the correct form where necessary. .

1. I’d prefer to get a taxi.

2. I’d rather wait till Iater.
3. I’d rather listen to some music.
4. I’d prefer to eat at home.
5. I’d rather wait a few minutes.
6. I’d rather go for a swim.
7. I’d prefer to think about it for a while.
8. I’d rather stand.
9. I’d prefer to go alone.
10. Rather than walk alone.
11. I’d prefer to go for a swim rather 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.

2. Write sentences using I’d prefer … and I’d rather … + the following:

1. It’s a nice day, isn’t it?

2. It’s (very) expensive, isn’t it?
3. The course was great, wasn’t it?
4. You’ve had your hair cut, haven’t you?
5. She has a good voice, hasn’t she? Or she’s got / she has got …
6. It doesn’t look very good, doesn’t it?
7. This bridge isn’t very sage, is it?

3. Complete the sentences using would you rather I …

1. Would you rather I made it?

2. Would you rather I told her
3. Would you rather I did it
4. Would you rather I phoned her

4. Use your own ideas to complete these sentences

1. Didn’t
2. Stayed / remained / waited
3. Stay
4. Didn’t
5. Were
6. Didn’t

Servicios Académicos para el Acompañamiento y la Permanencia - PAIEP

Primera Edición – 2016
En caso de encontrar algún error, contáctate con PAIEP-USACH al correo: lecturayescritura.paiep@usach.cl
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