A.
Prefer to do and prefer doing
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 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.
* Ann
prefers to live in the country rather than (live) in a city.
B.
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.
C.
Would rather (I'd rather...)
Would
rather (do) = would prefer (to do). After would rather we use the infinitive
without to.
Compare:
* 'Shall
we go by train?' '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.
D. 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.'
EXERCISES
58.1
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.
(tennis/football) I prefer ---
3.
(phone people/write letters) I --- to ---
4. (go
to the cinema/watch films on TV) ---
Now
rewrite sentences 3 and 4 using the structure 'I prefer (to do something)...'.
5. (1) I
prefer to drive rather travel by train.
6. (3) I
prefer to ---
7. (4)
---
58.2
Write sentences using I'd prefer ... or I'd rather... + one of the following:
eat at
home get a taxi go alone
go for a swim listen to some
music stand think a out it for a while wait a few minutes wait till later
1. Shall
we walk home? (prefer) _I'd prefer to get a taxi._
2. Do
you want to eat now? (rather) _I'd rather wait till later._
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? (rather) ---
9. Do
you want me to come with you? (prefer) ---
Now
write sentences using than and rather than.
10. (get
a taxi/walk home) I'd prefer _to get a taxi rather than walk home._
11. (go
for a swim/play tennis)
I'd
rather ---
12.
(wait a few minutes/leave now)
I'd
rather ---
13. (eat
at home/go to a restaurant)
I'd
prefer ---
14.
(think about it for a while/decide now)
I'd
rather ---
58.3
Complete the sentences using would you rather I ...
1. Are
you going to cook the dinner or would you rather I cooked it?
2. Are
you going to tell Ann what happened or would you rather ---?
3. Are
you going to do the shopping or ---?
4. Are
you going to answer the phone or ---?
58.4 Use
your own ideas to complete these sentences.
1. Shall
I tell Ann the news?' 'No, I'd rather she didn't 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. I'd rather you --- read it.
5. It's
quite a nice house but I'd rather it --- a bit bigger.
6. Do
you mind if I turn on the radio?' 'I'd rather you --- I'm trying to study.'
Answer
58.1
2 I
prefer tennis to football. or ... football to tennis.
3 I
prefer phoning people to writing letters. or ... writing letters to phoning
people.
4 I
prefer going to the cinema to watching films on TV. or ... watching films on TV
to going to the cinema.
6 I
prefer to phone people rather than write letters. or ... to write letters
rather than phone people.
7 I prefer
to go to the cinema rather than watch films on TV. or ... to watch films on TV
rather than go to the cinema.
58.2
3 I'd
prefer to listen to some music.
4 I'd
rather go for a swim.
5 I'd
rather wait a few minutes.
6 I'd
prefer to eat at home.
7 I'd
rather think about it for a while.
8 I'd
rather stand.
9 I'd
prefer to go alone.
11 I'd
rather go for a swim than play tennis.
12 I'd
rather wait a few minutes than leave now.
13 I'd
prefer to eat at home rather than go to a restaurant.
14 I'd
rather think about it for a while than decide now.
58.3
2 I told
her
3 would
you rather I did it
4 would
you rather I answered it
58.4
2
stayed 3 stay
4
didn't 5 was 6 didn't
