would rather

Prefer and would rather

Prcfcr to do and prcfcr doing

You can i»c 'prcfcr to Idol' or prcfcr -ing' to say w kat you prcfcr in generał:

C I don't like cities. I prcfcr to live in the country, or 1 prcfcr living in tl>c country.

Study tbe differcnccs in structurc after prcfcr. We say:

I prcfcr something    to something ciec.

I prcfcr dning something to doing something ehe. bul I peefer to do something rather ihan idol something clse.

□    I prcfcr this coat to the coat you were w-earing yesterday.

~l I prcfcr driving to traselling by tr3in.

bul J I prcfcr to drivc rather ihan travel hy tram.

O Sarah prefers to live in the country rather ihan (liści in a city.

Would prefer |l'd prefer ...I

Wc uie would prcfcr 10 sny what somebody wams in a spccific situation {nor in generał):

□    'Would you prefer tea or coffee?' 'Coffee, pleose.'

Wc say 'would prefer to do something' (not doingl:

O ‘Shall wc go by train?' Td prefci to drive.' (no/ l'd prefer druingl I'd prefer to stay at home tonight rather than go to the cincma.

Would rather il'd rather ...)

Would rather (do) = would prcfcr Ito doi. Wc usr would rather » infiniiii* iwithout toi. Compare:

,_rL „    .    .    [ ’l’d prcfcr to drivc.’

c ‘Shall wc go hy tram? ....    .....    , . .

( I d rather drisc. |noftodrive)

'Would you rather have tea or coffee?' 'Coffee. please.'

The negatoe is 'l'd rather not ido soinethiug)':

l'm tired. Pd rather not go out rhis ecening, if you don’t mind. Do you want to go out ihis erening." 'Pd rather not.'

We say 'would rather do something than do something clse’: c Pd rather stay at home tonight than go io ihe cinema.

Pd rather you did something

We say ‘Pd rather you did something’ (not Pd rather you doi. For esampłe:

E "Shall I stay herr?' 'Pd rather you came with us.‘ |*- I would prefer thisl ~ TH repjir your Inkę romorrow. OK?' ‘Pd rather you did it today.* a 'Are you going to tell them what happened?’ "No. Pd rather they didn't know.' □ Shall I tell them. nr would you rather they didnT know?

In this structure we use the pjsi (came. did etc.), but the mcanmg is present not past. Compare:

3 Pd rather make dinner naw.

Pd rather you madę dinner now. (nor Pd rather you make)

Pd rather you didn't (do somcthingl = Pd prefer you not to do it:

U Pd rather you didnT tell anyonc what I said.

3 "Shall I tell Linda what happened?’ 'Pd rather you didn't.*