Prefer and Would Rather

rea 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 dont 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 (Id 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? Id prefer to drive. (Not Id prefer driving).

- Id prefer to stay at home tonight rather than go to the cinema.

Would rather (Id prefer )

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

- Shall we go by train? Id prefer to drive. / Id rather drive (not to drive)

- Would you rather have tea or coffee? Coffee, please.

The negatives is Id rather not (do something) _

- Im tired. Id rather not go out this evening, if you dont mind.

- Do you want to go out this evening? Id rather not.

We say would rather do something than do something else:

- Id rather stay at home tonight than go to the cinema.

Id rather you did something

We say Id rather you did something (not Id rather you do). For example:

- Shall I stay here? Id rather you came with us. (= I would prefer this)
- Ill repair your bike tomorrow, OK? Id rather you did it today.
- Are you going to tell them what happened? No, Id rather they didnt know.
- Shall I tell them, or would you rather they didnt know?

In this structure we use the past (came, did etc.), but the meaning is present not past.
Compare:

- Id rather make dinner now.

- Id rather you made dinner now. (Not Id rather you make).

Id rather you didnt (do something) = Id prefer you not do it:

- Id rather you didnt tell anyone what I said.

- Shall I tell Linda what happened? Id rather you didnt.

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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 Id prefer and Id 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) Id prefer to get a taxi.

2. Do you want to eat now? (rather) Id rather wait till later.
3. Would you like to watch TV? (rather) _____________________________________.
4. Do you want to go to a restaurant? (prefer) ________________________________.
5. Lets 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. Id prefer to get a taxi rather than walk home.

11. Id prefer to go for a swim ________________________________________________.
12. Id rather eat at home ___________________________________________________.

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 13. Id prefer to think about ir for a while _______________________________________.
14. Id 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, Id rather she didnt 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. Id rather you ________________________ read it.
5. I dont really like these shoes. Id rather they ____________________ a different colour.
6. A: Do you mind if I turn on the radio?
B: Id rather you __________________. Im trying to study.

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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. Id prefer to get a taxi.

2. Id rather wait till Iater.
3. Id rather listen to some music.
4. Id prefer to eat at home.
5. Id rather wait a few minutes.
6. Id rather go for a swim.
7. Id prefer to think about it for a while.
8. Id rather stand.
9. Id prefer to go alone.
10. Rather than walk alone.
11. Id prefer to go for a swim rather than play tennis.
12. Id rather eat at home than go to a restaurant.
13. Id prefer to think about it for a while rather than decide now.

2. Write sentences using Id prefer and Id rather + the following:

1. Its a nice day, isnt it?

2. Its (very) expensive, isnt it?
3. The course was great, wasnt it?
4. Youve had your hair cut, havent you?
5. She has a good voice, hasnt she? Or shes got / she has got
6. It doesnt look very good, doesnt it?
7. This bridge isnt 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. Didnt
2. Stayed / remained / waited
3. Stay
4. Didnt
5. Were
6. Didnt

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