Expressing Preferences_Practice

Expressing preferences : Prefer/Would prefer/Would rather (‘d rather)
I. Prefer
You can use "prefer to (do)" or "prefer V+ing" to say what you prefer in general:
• I don`t 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 this colour to the red one.
I prefer doing something to doing something else: I prefer walking to going by bus to work.
I prefer to do something rather than do something else : I prefer to drive rather than travel by train.
Ann prefers to live in the country rather than (live) in a city.
II. 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.
III. Would rather (I`d rather...)
Would rather (do) = would prefer (to do). After would rather we use the bare infinitive.
Compare:
• "Shall we go by train?"
 "I`d prefer to go by car."


 "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.
IV. 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.
• 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."
PRACTICE
1. 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...........................................................................
2.( tennis / football )
I prefer….
3.( phone people / write letters)
I prefer …
4.( go to the cinema / watch films on TV)
I prefer…
2. Rewrite the above sentences using the structure " I prefer ( to do something) rather than … "
1. I prefer........................... rather than .......................
2. I prefer…........................ rather than ....................…
3. I prefer........................… rather than ....................…
3. Write sentences using " I would prefer… " or " I would rather… "
eat at home / listen to some music / wait till later/ get a taxi /stand / go alone / think about it for a while / go for a swim /wait a few minutes
1. Shall we walk home ? ( prefer)
….................................................................................
2. Do you want to eat now ? ( rather)
….
3. Shall we watch TV ? ( prefer)
…
4. What about a game of tennis ? ( rather)
…
5. Shall we leave now ? (rather)
…
6. Do you want to go to a restaurant ? ( prefer)
…
7. I think we should decide now ? ( rather)
…
8. Would you like to sit down ? ( prefer)
…
9. Do you want me to come with you ? ( prefer)
…
4. Write sentences using the comparative form with "would prefer / would rather" and "than / rather than"
1. ( get a taxi / walk home)
I`d prefer…
2. ( go