Expressing Preferences

We often use words like prefer, would prefer, would rather to talk or ask about preferences.

"I prefer living on my own."
"Would you prefer to see a movie or go to a club?"
"Would you rather go shopping with me?"


Those expressions are quite different in meaning and this is why learners of English often find them challenging. So here is how we can separate them:

Difference in meaning:

We tend to use 'prefer' to talk generally about likes, dislikes, what we want.

“He prefers reading books.”
“I prefer going to the beach to going to a swimming pool.”

The expressions 'would prefer' and 'would rather', to be a little more specific.

“I would prefer to see him in person.”
“I would rather go home now.”

Difference in form:

Followed by a different verb form:

“I prefer living in a city.” (followed by the gerund; the '-ing' ending)
(followed by the infinitive; to+ the verb)
“Would you rather stay at a hotel?” (followed by the base form of the verb; the verb without 'to'.

Different prepositions to state the choice.

prefer,– go with 'to'

“I'd prefer living in a city to living in the country.”
would rather – goes with 'than'
“I would (I'd) rather talk to him in person than call him on the phone.”

1. Prefer

Patterns:

• Prefer + to infinitive
• Prefer + nouns + to + nouns
• Prefer + V-ing + to + V-ing

e.g:

• They prefer to stay home
• My mother prefers lemon to orange juice
• She prefers swimming to dancing

2. would rather

Patterns:

• Would rather + bare infinitives
• Would rather + bare infinitives + than + bare infinitives
• Would rather + bare infinitives + nouns + than + bare infinitives + nouns

e.g:
• I would rather study now
• She would rather stay home than go shopping
• You'd rather speak English than French

3. Would prefer to

Patterns:

• Would prefer + to infinitives + rather than + bare infinitives
• Would prefer + to infinitives + nouns + rather than + bare infinitives + nouns

e.g:
• They would prefer to sing rather than dance.
• You'd prefer to play ball rather than take a sleep.

4. Like

Patterns:

• Like + nouns / V-ing + better than + nouns / V-ing

e.g:

• I like singing a song better than playing a guitar
• I like coffee better than tea.

Check this video of preferences