Would rather, would prefer: Expressing preference

Would rather, would prefer: Expressing preference

Exercise 2

Choose the correct option to complete the sentences below.

Please wait...

1 I'd prefer to watch a movie _______ go to a concert.

A.rather than

B.to

C.that

D.from

2 He'd prefer to keep his job _______ fired.

A.to being

B.rather than being

C.before to be

D.rather than be

3 I'd prefer ______ just a salad.

A.have

B.having

C.to have

D.to having

4 I'd prefer to walk rather than _______ by car.

A.to go

B.go

C.going

D.to going

5 I _______ become a pianist.

A.'d rather

B.'d prefer

C.prefer

D.rather

6 I _______ to go on a cruise.

A.would rather

B.rather

C.would prefer to

D.'d prefer

7 I prefer running _______ .

A.rather than to swim

B.to swimming

C.than swimming

D.to swim

8 She'd prefer to work night shifts _______ work at weekends.

A.that

B.than

C.to

D.rather than

9 I'd rather she _______ something different.

A.study

B.studied

C.to study

D.would study

10 I _______ he didn't do it on his own.

A.'d prefer

B.'d like

C.'d rather

D.prefer

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Would rather, would prefer: Grammar chart

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Would rather/would sooner

Would rather/sooner + infinitive … (than)

We use would rather/sooner + infinitive (without to) to talk about preference. We can use it with than (+noun/infinitive) in affirmative sentences or with or in questions.

• I‘d rather/sooner have tea, please. 
• I‘d rather/sooner have tea than drink that coffee. 
• Would you rather/sooner have tea or coffee?

Would rather/sooner + subject + past simple

We can use would rather/sooner + subject + past simple to refer to the present or future.

• We‘d rather/sooner she was/were with us now.*
• She‘d rather/sooner I picked her up after lunch. 
• Would you rather/sooner we went by bus or by train?

🔍 Note that we can use were instead of was with I/he/she after would rather + subject.

Prefer

(Would) prefer + to + infinitive … (rather than/instead of)

We use prefer/would prefer + noun or to + infinitive to talk about specific preference, i.e. what we prefer on a specific occasion.

• I would prefer to stay in a hotel near the airport. (or I would rather stay…)
• Most clients prefer to have breakfast in their bedroom. 

We can use prefer/would prefer with rather than or instead of to show the choices we have.

• I would prefer to be too early rather than be too late. 
• I prefer to go with Dad instead of staying here with Mum. 

❗ Note that we use rather than + infinitive without to

Prefer + -ing verb

We use prefer + noun or -ing verb to talk about general preference, i.e. what we prefer in general, on every occasion.

• I love running, but he prefers cycling. 

We can use prefer with to to show the choices we have. The word to is a preposition here, so if we use a verb after to, it should take the -ing form.

• He prefers walking to cycling.