Preferences

There are 3 main ways to express preferences that all you students should know and use. With all of these, the second clause is not always included if the context makes it unnecessary.

prefer + noun/gerund + to + noun/gerund – used to talk about general preferences

• I prefer tennis to squash.
• I prefer cleaning the kitchen to cleaning the bathroom.

would prefer + infinitive with to + rather than + infinitive without to– used to talk about preferences for a specific moment or hypothetical preferences

• I’d prefer to drive rather than to walk to work today.
• I’d prefer to be rich rather than be famous.

would (much) rather + infinitive without to + than + infinitive without to – has the same meaning as would prefer

• I’d rather see a film than go to a concert this evening.
• I’d much rather live in a house than in a flat.