Prefer and Rather

PREFER AND RATHER

You can use "prefer -ing" to say what you prefer in general:

• I don't like cities. I prefer livingin 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.

• I prefer this coat to the coat you were wearing yesterday.
• I prefer driving to traveling by train.

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 train?"
	"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.

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."