Part 6: 'prefer', 'would prefer', or ' would rather'? Ask BBC Learning English

That's what Maria wants to know.

Let's start with general preference.

So, when you like one thing more than another, you can use prefer.

I prefer coffee to tea.

Nowadays, I prefer staying in to going out.

I prefer camping holidays to beach holidays.

Pay attention to the form.

I prefer something to something.

So, you can use nouns.

I prefer coffee to tea.

Or you can use verbs.

But careful, the verb needs to be in the ing form.

I prefer staying in to going out.

You could also use I would rather to talk about your general preference.

It's used in the same way as prefer.

But careful, there are some differences in how you use it.

Nowadays, I'd rather stay in than go out.

Yeah, generally, I'd rather drink coffee than tea.

So, first, the preposition is than, not to.

I'd rather drink coffee than tea.

Also, you need a verb.

And that verb is in the base form, not ing.

You can also talk about specific preferences.

Things you prefer to do now or in the future.

To do this, we use would prefer and rather than in one sentence.

But careful, we normally contract the would to "'d".

I'd prefer.

I'd prefer to go to a hotel rather than go camping this summer.

But careful, this time the preposition is than.

And also, the verb is in the to plus infinitive form.

I'd prefer to go out rather than stay in.

In spoken English, we often just drop the word rather.

So, I'd prefer to go out than stay in.

I'd prefer to go to the pub than the cinema tonight.

We can also use would rather in the same way we use would prefer.

I think I'd rather go camping than stay in a hotel this year.

Oh, well, I'd rather go to the pub than the cinema.

But again, notice the differences.

With I'd rather, we don't have a to with the verb.

I'd rather go to the pub than the cinema.

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