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 livingin the country.
Study the differences in structure after prefer. We say:
I prefer something to something else.
I prefer to do something rather than (do) something else.
I prefer doing something to doing something else.
• I prefer this coat to the coat you were wearing yesterday.
• I prefer driving to traveling by train.
but • I prefer to drive rather than travel by train.
• Ann 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 particular situation (not in
general):
• "Would you prefer tea or coffee" "Coffee, please."
We say "would prefer to do" (not "doing"):
• "Shall we go by train?" "Well, I'd prefer to go by car. (not "I'd prefer going")
• 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). After would rather we use the infinitive
without to.
Compare:
"I'd prefer to go by car."
• "Shall we go by train?"
"I'd rather go by car. (not to go)
• "Would you rather have tea or coffee" "Coffee, please."
The negative 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."
Study the structure after would rather:
I'd 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
When you want somebody to do something, you can say "I'd rather you did
something":
• "Shall I stay here?" "I'd rather you came with us."
• "Shall I tell them the news?" "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 or future,
not past.
Compare:
• I'd rather cook the dinner now.
but • I'd rather you cooked the dinner now. (not "I'd rather you cook")
The negative is "I'd rather you didn't...":
• I'd rather you didn't tell anyone what I said.
• "Do you mind if I smoke?" "I'd rather you didn't."
1) Running is more pleasant than swimming.
[ ]I prefer having run than having swim
[ ]I rather running than swimming
[ ]I prefer running to swimming
2) I don't really want to go riding.
[ ]I rather staying here with my friends
[ ]I'd rather stay here with my friends
[ ]I prefer to have to stay with my friends
3) I hate writing letters!
[ ]I prefer to send e-mails than to write letters
[ ]I rather to send e-mails than to write letters
[ ]I prefer to sending e-mails than to writing letters
4) I feel tired this evening.
[ ]I 'd prefer to go not to the theatre
[ ]I 'd prefer not to go to the theatre
[ ]I 'd rather going not to the theatre
5) Dogs are more faithful than cats.
[ ]I prefer dogs to cats
[ ]I prefer to having dogs to having cats
[ ]I rather have dogs to cats
6) Shall we go by plane? Well
[ ]I'd rather go by train
[ ]I prefer having train
[ ]I rather go by train
7) Do you mind if I tell you the truth? Humm!
[ ]I rather you not
[ ]I'd prefer you not doing
[ ]I'd rather you didn't
8) This course is really boring.
[ ]I'd prefer to be at home
[ ]I'd rather to be at home
[ ]I rather being at home
9) Do you like English food?
[ ]I prefer French food to English one
[ ]I rather French food to English one
[ ]I prefer to having French food than to having English one
10) Could you do the washing up?
[ ]I'd rather not!
[ ]I prefer to not!
[ ]I rather not!
ANSWERS:
1. I prefer running to swimming
2. I'd rather stay here with my friends
3. I prefer to send e-mails than to write letters
4. I 'd prefer not to go to the theatre
5. I prefer dogs to cats
6. I'd rather go by train
7. I'd rather you didn't
8. I'd prefer to be at home
9. I prefer French food to English one
10. I'd rather not!
