Prefer and Would Rather

1. Prefer
• You can use prefer to do or prefer doing to say what you prefer in general.
e.g. : I don’t like cities. I prefer to live in the country. Or I prefer living in the
country.
• We can also use:
- subject + prefer + something + to + something else
e.g. : I prefer this coat to the coat you were wearing yesterday.
- subject + prefer + -ing + to + -ing
e.g. : I prefer driving to travelling by train.
- subject + prefer + infinitive with to + rather than + infinitive without to
e.g. : I prefer to drive rather than travel by train.
Sarah prefers to live in the country rather than *(live) in a city.
* We can omit the verb after rather than if it is the same. That’s why it’s in brackets..

2. Would prefer
• We use would prefer to say what somebody wants in a specific situation (not in
general).
e.g. : `Would you prefer tea or coffee?´ `Coffee, please.´
After would prefer, we always use infinitive with to , never –ing.
e.g. : `Shall we go by train?´ `Iwould prefer to drive.´
We don’t say `I would prefer driving.´
• We can also use:
subject + would prefer + object + infinitive with to
when we want somebody to do something in a specifict situation.
e.g. : I’d prefer you not to tell this to anyone.
Susan would prefer John to help her to do her homework.

3. Would rather : (would prefer)

• We use : subject + would rather + infinitive without to
e.g. :`Would you rather have tea or coffee?´ `Coffee, please.´
Compare :
`Shall we go by train?´
`I’d prefer to drive.´ or `I’d rather drive.´
• The negative is I’d rather not (do) something
e.g. : I’m tired. I’d rather not go out this evening.
`Do you want to go out this evening?´ `I’d rather not.´
• We also use :
Subject + would rather + infinitive without to + than + infinitive without to
e.g. : I’d rather stay at home than go to the cinema.
Compare :
I’d prefer to stay at home rather than go to the cinema.
• We also use :
subject + would rather + subject + Past Simple
e.g. : `I’ll repair your bike tomorrow.´ `No, I would rather you repaired it today.´
Shall I tell them or would you rather they didn’t know?´
`I’d rather they didn’t know.´
In this structure we use the past but the meaning is present not past.
Compare:
I’d rather make dinner now.
I’d rather you made dinner now

I’d prefer you not to send the e-mail.

I’d rather you didn’t send the e-mail.

I’d prefer Susan to retake the exam.

I’d rather Susan retook the exam.

I’d prefer to play tennis rather than watch TV.

I’d rather play tennis than watch TV.

I’d prefer to talk to you.

I’d rather talk to you.