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  • Prefer: and Would Rather

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    Danil Pechorin
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    This document discusses the use of prefer, would prefer, and would rather in English. It notes: 1) Prefer is used to express general preferences, such as "I prefer living in the country." Would prefer expresses a preference in a specific situation, like "Would you prefer tea or coffee?" 2) Would rather is used similarly to would prefer to indicate a preference in a specific situation. For example, "I'd rather drive than take the train." It is also used with "I'd rather do one thing than another." 3) When expressing what one would prefer someone else do, the past tense is used even for present meaning, like "I'd rather you drove" rather than "

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    Unit 59

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    This document discusses the use of prefer, would prefer, and would rather in English. It notes: 1) Prefer is used to express general preferences, such as "I prefer living in the country." Would prefer expresses a preference in a specific situation, like "Would you prefer tea or coffee?" 2) Would rather is used similarly to would prefer to indicate a preference in a specific situation. For example, "I'd rather drive than take the train." It is also used with "I'd rather do one thing than another." 3) When expressing what one would prefer someone else do, the past tense is used even for present meaning, like "I'd rather you drove" rather than "

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    389 views2 pages

    Prefer: and Would Rather

    Uploaded by

    Danil Pechorin
    This document discusses the use of prefer, would prefer, and would rather in English. It notes: 1) Prefer is used to express general preferences, such as "I prefer living in the country." Would prefer expresses a preference in a specific situation, like "Would you prefer tea or coffee?" 2) Would rather is used similarly to would prefer to indicate a preference in a specific situation. For example, "I'd rather drive than take the train." It is also used with "I'd rather do one thing than another." 3) When expressing what one would prefer someone else do, the past tense is used even for present meaning, like "I'd rather you drove" rather than "

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    of 2

    Unit

    59 prefer and would rather


    A prefer to … and prefer -ing
    When you say what you prefer in general, you can use prefer to … or prefer -ing:
    I don’t like cities. I prefer to live in the country. or I prefer living in the country.
    You can say:
    prefer something to something else
    to doing something else
    prefer doing something
    rather than (doing) something else
    prefer to do something rather than (do) something else
    I prefer this coat to the other one.
    I prefer driving to travelling by train. or
    I prefer driving rather than travelling by train.
    I prefer to drive rather than travel by train.
    Sarah prefers to live in the country rather than in a city.

    B 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.’
    We say ‘would prefer to do something’ (not usually would prefer doing):
    ‘Shall we go by train?’ ‘I’d prefer to drive.’ (= I would prefer …)
    I’d prefer to stay at home tonight rather than go to the cinema.

    C would rather (I’d rather …)


    I’d rather = I would rather. I’d rather do something = I’d prefer to do it.
    We say I’d rather do (not to do). Compare:
    ⎧ ‘I’d rather drive.’ (not to drive)
    ‘Shall we go by train?’ ⎨
    ⎩ ‘I’d prefer to drive.’
    Which would you rather do, ⎧
    go to the cinema or go shopping?
    Which would you prefer to do, ⎨⎩
    The negative is ‘I’d rather not …’ :
    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 ‘I’d rather do one thing than do another’:
    I’d rather stay at home tonight than go to the cinema.

    D I’d rather somebody did something


    We say ‘I’d rather you did something’ (not I’d rather you do):
    ‘Who’s going to drive, you or me?’ ‘I’d rather you drove.’ (= I would prefer this)
    ‘Jack says he’ll repair your bike tomorrow, OK?’ ‘I’d rather he did it today.’
    Are you going to tell Anna what happened, or would you rather I told her?
    We use the past (drove, did etc.) here, 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 to do it:
    I’d rather you didn’t tell anyone what I said.
    ‘Shall I tell Anna what happened?’ ‘I’d rather you didn’t.’
    ‘Are you going to tell Anna what happened?’ ‘No. I’d rather she didn’t know.’

    118 would prefer ➜ Unit 58B prefer (one thing) to (another) ➜ Unit 136D
    Unit
    Exercises 59
    59.1 Which do you prefer? Write sentences using ‘I prefer (something) to (something else)’.
    1 (driving / travelling by train)
    I prefer driving to travelling by train.
    2 (basketball / football)
    I prefer
    3 (going to the cinema / watching movies at home)
    I to
    4 (being very busy / having nothing to do)
    I
    Now rewrite sentences 3 and 4 using rather than:
    5 (1) I prefer to drive rather than travel by train.
    or I prefer driving rather than travelling by train.
    6 (3) I prefer
    7 (4)

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

    1 Shall we walk home? I’d rather get a taxi.


    2 Do you want to eat now? I’d prefer to wait till later.
    3 Would you like to watch TV? I’d to listen to some music.
    4 Do you want to go to a restaurant? I’d rather at home.
    5 Let’s go now. wait a few minutes.
    6 What about a game of tennis? I’d prefer for a swim.
    7 I think we should decide now. I’d think about it for a while.
    8 Would you like to sit down? to stand.
    9 Do you want me to come with you? I’d rather alone.

    Now use the same ideas to complete these sentences using than and rather than.
    10 (1) I’d rather get a taxi than wait for a bus.
    11 (3) I’d rather some music
    12 (4) I’d prefer at home
    13 (6) I’d rather for a swim
    14 (7) I’d prefer about it for a while

    59.3 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 pay the bill or would you rather ?
    3 Are you going to do the shopping or ?
    4 Are you going to phone Tina or ?

    59.4 Use your own ideas (one or two words) to complete these sentences.
    1 ‘Shall I tell Anna what happened?’ ‘No, I’d rather she didn’t know.’
    2 You can stay here if you want to, but I’d rather you with us.
    3 I don’t like this programme. I’d rather not it.
    4 I’d rather work outdoors work in an office.
    5 This is a private matter. I’d rather you tell anybody else.
    6 The weather here isn’t bad, but I’d rather it a little warmer.
    7 I don’t want to go to the match. I’d prefer it on TV.
    8 ‘Do you mind if I open the window?’ ‘I’d rather you . I’m feeling cold.’
    9 I hate doing the shopping. I’d rather somebody else it.
    10 I’d prefer to go to the beach go shopping.

    ➜ Additional exercises 27–28 (pages 318–19) 119

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