How to use prefer and rather correctly - including QUIZ at the end!

In this lesson you’ll learn how to use prefer and rather correctly, you'll also learn 3 great phrases to use when you don’t have a preference, and there’s a QUIZ to test what you’ve learned at the end.

Talking about preferences is a very useful small-talk skill. Here’s what is covered in this lesson:

General preferences
Which do you prefer, beer or wine?
I prefer wine
Do you prefer reading or watching TV
I prefer reading. OR I prefer reading to watching TV. (use “to” when talking about 2 things)
So we can say
I prefer reading – prefer + gerund
and we can also say
I prefer to read – prefer + infinitive
Do you prefer to read or watch TV?
I prefer to read
To talk about preferences in a specific situation we use would prefer or would rather
What would you prefer, Indian or Chinese?
I’d prefer Chinese. (I’d is the short form of I would – it sounds more natural)
Would you prefer going for lunch at 12 or 1?
I’d prefer going at 12 OR I’d prefer going at 12 to going at 1. (use “to” when talking about 2 things)
We can say
I’d prefer going – prefer + gerund
or
I’d prefer to go – prefer + infinitive
Would you prefer to go at 12 or 1?
I’d prefer to go at 12
Rather
Rather has to be followed by the base verb – it can’t be followed by a gerund or infinitive
Would you rather go for lunch at 12 or 1?
Would you rather going for lunch at 12 or 1? - Incorrect!
Would you rather to go for lunch at 12 or 1? - Incorrect!
I’d rather go at 12
OR
I’d rather go at 12 than 1. (use “than” when talking about 2 things)

Negative form
General statements
I prefer not to get up early on Saturday. prefer + not + infinitive
Specific situations
I’d prefer not to go to the conference next week . prefer + not + infinitive
I’d rather not go to the conference next week. rather + not + verb
I’d rather not to go… - Incorrect!
I’d rather not going… - Incorrect!

Great phrases to use when you don’t have a preference
Do you prefer Netflix or Amazon?
It’s all the same to me.

Would you rather meet on Saturday or Sunday?
I don’t really mind. Whatever you prefer.

Which would you prefer tonight – theatre or cinema?
I don’t have a preference either way.

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