Prefer и would rather: как правильно использовать

Поговорим о том, как правильно использовать в английском языке такие популярные в разговорах и письменных текстах грамматические обороты, как «Prefer» и «would rather» — предпочитать или «лучше бы» соотвественно

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 tram?’   >> ‘I’d prefer to go by car.’
• ‘Shall we go by tram?’   >> 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

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)
5. Now rewrite sentences 3 and 4 using the structure ‘I prefer (to do something)…’.
6. (1) I prefer, to drive rather than travel by train.
7. (3) I prefer to ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
8. (4) …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

2 Write sentences using I’d prefer… or I’d rather… + one of the following:

eat at home    got a taxi    go alone    go for a swim    listen to some music   stand    think about 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.

1. (get a taxi / walk home) I’d prefer to get a taxi rather than walk home…
2. (go for a swim / play tennis)    I’d rather ………………………………………………………………………………..
3. (wait a few minutes / leave now) I’d rather ……………………………………………………………………………..
4. (eat at home / go to a restaurant) I’d prefer ……………………………………………………………………………
5. (think about it for a while / decide now) I’d rather ……………………………………………………………………..

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’…………………………………………………………………………………?

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?’   Td rather you ……………………………   I’m trying to study.’

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