Gerund phrases as subject and object

Both would rather and would prefer are used to express preferences in English. Here are some examples of short conversations that use would rather and would prefer to either state or ask for a preference.

Mary: That's a good idea.
John: How about going to a film? There's a new film out with Tom Hanks.
Mary: I'd rather go out for dinner. I'm hungry!
John: Okay. Which restaurant would you prefer?
Mary: I'd prefer to eat at Johnny's. They serve great steaks.

Sue: I'm not sure which topic to choose for my essay.
Debby: Well, what are your choices?
Sue: I can write about the economy or about a book.
Debby: Which would you rather write about?
Sue: I'd prefer to write about a book.
Debby: How about Moby Dick?
Sue: No, I'd rather write about Timothy's Gift.

Would Rather - Structure

Use would rather plus the simple form of the verb. It's common to use would ratherin the shortened I'd rather form in positive statements. Use Would rather to refer to the present moment or a future moment in time. Here are the structures:

Positive

Subject + would rather ('d rather) + verb

Peter'd rather spend time on the beach.
I would rather learn a new language than study math.

Question

Would + subject + rather + verb

Would they rather do homework tomorrow morning?

Negative

Subject + would rather ('d rather) + not + verb 

She'd rather not go to class today.
I'd rather not answer that question.

Would Rather Than

Would rather is often used with than when making a choice between two specific actions:

Would you rather eat dinner out than cook dinner tonight?
She would rather play tennis than go horseback riding.

Would Rather Or

Would rather can also be used to ask for a choice between two with the conjunction or:

Would you rather eat here or go out?
Would you rather study or watch TV?

Would Rather Someone Do

Would rather is also used to express what one person prefers another person would do. The structure is similar to the unreal conditional because it expresses an imaginary wish. However, the form is also used to ask a polite question.

S + would rather + Person + past verb 

Tom would rather Mary bought an SUV.
Would you rather she stayed here with us?

Positive

Subject + would rather ('d rather) + object + past tense

I would rather my son worked in finance.
Susan would rather Peter took a plane.

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Question

Would + subject + rather + object + past tense

Would you rather her sister flew home tomorrow?
Would you rather he came with us to the meeting?

Would Prefer

It's also possible to use would prefer instead of would rather to speak about present preferences. In this case, follow prefer by the infinitive form of the verb:

Positive

Subject + would prefer ('d prefer) + infinitive (to do)

Jennifer would prefer to stay at home tonight.
The teacher'd prefer to have the test next week.

Question

Would + subject + prefer + infinitive (to do)

Would you prefer to go out for dinner tonight?
Would they prefer to stay in New York for the week?

Expressing Preferences with Prefer

Use the simple present with prefer to express general preferences between people, places or objects. Use the preposition to to state your preference:

Positive

Subject + prefer + object + to + object

She prefers coffee to tea. 
I prefer summer vacations to winter vacations. 

Question

Do + subject + prefer +  object + to + object

Do you prefer wine to beer?
Does she prefer New York to Chicago?

When stating preferences for activities, use prefer followed by either the gerundor the infinitive form of the verb: 

Positive

Subject + prefer + to do / doing + object

My friend prefers to finish his chores early in the morning. 
Jack prefers doing his homework at home to doing it in the library.

Question

Do + subject + prefer + to do / doing + object

When do you prefer staying at home to going out at night?
Does she prefer to eat in restaurants?

Preferences Quiz I

Fill in the gap with the correct form of the verb (do, to do, doing, did):

1. Jennifer'd rather _____ (stay) home for dinner tonight.
2. I think I'd prefer _______ (play) chess today.
3. Would you rather I _____ (leave) you alone?
4. I'd rather the students _____ (study) for their test.
5. Peter prefers _____ (relax) at home on the weekend.

Preferences Quiz II

Fill in the gap with to, than, or:

1. Do you prefer coffee _____ tea?
2. I think I'd prefer _____ drive to California. 
3. Would you rather go to the club _____ go to the beach? (asking for a choice)
4. He'd rather work all day _____ go to the beach! (make a specific choice)
5. My friend prefers Japanese food _____ American food.

Expressing likes desires and preferencias

Expressing Likes and Preferences

(would rather, like, prefer)

A.  There is more than one way to express your likes and preferences.  You already learned would rather.  Study like and prefer in the chart below.

Would Rather - Structure

Use would rather plus the simple form of the verb. It's common to use would ratherin the shortened I'd rather form in positive statements. Use Would rather to refer to the present moment or a future moment in time. Here are the structures:

Positive

Subject + would rather ('d rather) + verb

Peter'd rather spend time on the beach.
I would rather learn a new language than study math.

Question

Would + subject + rather + verb 

Examples	Construction
I would rather work inside than (work) outside. I would rather get paid hourly than be on salary.	would rather + base verb (Note: would rather is used with than)
I like to work outside. I like working outside. I prefer getting paid hourly. I prefer to get paid hourly. I prefer working inside to (working) outside. I prefer getting paid hourly to being on salary.	like + gerund or infinitive
	prefer + gerund or infinitive (Note: When two things are compared using prefer, to should be used.)

(Note: If the same verb is used in both phrases, it doesn’t need to be repeated.)

B. Write sentences about your preferences, using like or don’t like.

1. work inside        ___________________________________________________

2. work outside      ___________________________________________________

3. get paid hourly   ___________________________________________________

4. be on salary       ___________________________________________________

5. work nights        ___________________________________________________

6. work days                   ___________________________________________________

7. work at home     ___________________________________________________

8. use a machine    ___________________________________________________

9. type                   ___________________________________________________

10. write reports    ___________________________________________________

C.  Write sentences about each of the following groups of phrases, usingprefer or would rather.

1. work inside / work outside

__________________________________________________________________

2. get paid hourly / be on salary

__________________________________________________________________

3. work nights / work days

__________________________________________________________________

4. work overtime / spend time with (my) family

__________________________________________________________________

5. work with my hands / work with machines

__________________________________________________________________

6. work with other people / work alone

__________________________________________________________________

7. use a computer / write by hand

__________________________________________________________________

D.  Answer each of the following questions with a complete sentence.

1. Do you like to work in the morning or the evenings?

__________________________________________________________________

2. Do you prefer to have a male or a female manager?

__________________________________________________________________

3. Would you rather work in an office or a factory?

__________________________________________________________________

4. Would you rather drive to work or walk to work?

__________________________________________________________________

5. Would you rather work for a big company or a small company?

__________________________________________________________________

6. Do you want to retire at 65 or 70?

__________________________________________________________________

7. Would you rather work full-time or part-time?

__________________________________________________________________

8. Would you rather own your own business or work for someone else?

Example

Expressing Likes, Desires, and Preferences

Expressing Likes, Desires, and Preferences

"Preferir" en inglés: prefer, would rather, would prefer

PREFER

 Para hablar de preferencias en general, usamos el verbo prefer seguido de verbo acabado en -ing o de infinitivo con to sin que cambie el significado.

I prefer buying online = I prefer to buy online

(prefiero comprar por internet)

También podemos indicar que preferimos una cosa a otra con la siguiente estructura:

Sujeto + prefer + sustantivo + to + sustantivo

I prefer tea to coffe (prefiero el té al café)

Para decir que preferimos hacer una cosa a hacer otra podemos usar las siguientes estructuras:

Sujeto + prefer + verbo acabado en -ing + TO + verbo acabado en -ing

I prefer going to the cinema to staying at home.

(prefiero ir al cine a quedarme en casa)

Sujeto + prefer + infinitivo con to + RATHER THAN + infinitivo sin to

I prefer to read rather than watch TV

(prefiero leer a ver la televisión)

WOULD RATHER

 Significa prefiero o preferiría y va seguido de infinitivo sin to (bare infinitive).

Shall we go shopping? I would rather go to the cinema.

 (¿Vamos de compras? Prefiero / preferiría ir al cine)

Forma abreviada: I'd rather go out  (prefiero / preferiría salir)

Para decir que preferimos hacer una cosa a hacer otra usamos la siguiente estructura:

Sujeto + would rather + infinitivo sin to + THAN + infinitivo sin to

She would rather go out than stay at home.

(ella prefiere/ preferiría salir a quedarse en casa)

WOULD PREFER

 También significa prefiero o preferiría y va seguido de infinitivo con to. Es más formal que would rather. 

Shall we go shopping? I would prefer to go to the cinema.

(¿Vamos de compras? Prefiero / preferiría ir al cine)

Forma abreviada: I'd prefer to go out (prefiero / preferiría salir)

Para decir que preferimos hacer una cosa a hacer otra usamos la siguiente estructura:

Sujeto + would prefer + infinitivo con to + RATHER THAN + infinitivo sin to

They would prefer to travel to London rather than go skiing.

(ellos prefieren / preferirían viajar a Londres que ir a esquiar)

¡Cuidado!

- Después de than o rather than siempre va un infinitivo sin to (bare infinitive)

(Prefiero viajar en tren a conducir)

I prefer to travel by train rather than drive.

I would rather travel by train than drive.

I would prefer to travel by train rather than drive.

RESUMEN

1) PREFER se usa en correlación con TO (si usamos gerundio) o con RATHER THAN (si usamos infinitivo con to)

I prefer swimming to running (prefiero nadar a correr)

I prefer to swim rather than run (prefiero nadar a correr)

2) WOULD RATHER se usa en correlación con THAN.

I would rather swim than run (prefiero nadar a correr)

3) WOULD PREFER se usa en correlación con RATHER THAN

I would prefer to swim rather than run (prefiero nadar a correr)