1. Grammar – Unit 59 Prefer and would rather

2. Prefer and would rather
Agenda
Learning Objectives
Example Set A for Prefer to do and prefer doing
Example Set B for Would prefer (I’d prefer …)
Example Set C for Would rather (I’d rather …)
Example Set D for I’d rather you did something
Prefer and would rather

3. Prefer and would rather
Agenda
Learning Objectives
Example Set A for Prefer to do and prefer doing
Example Set B for Would prefer (I’d prefer …)
Example Set C for Would rather (I’d rather …)
Example Set D for I’d rather you did something
Prefer and would rather

4. Prefer and would rather
Learning Objectives
Prefer and would rather:
Where to use Prefer to do and prefer doing
Where to use Would prefer (I’d prefer …)
Where to use Would rather (I’d rather …)
Where to use I’d rather you did something
Prefer and would rather

5. Prefer and would rather
Agenda
Learning Objectives
Example Set A for Prefer to do and prefer doing
Example Set B for Would prefer (I’d prefer …)
Example Set C for Would rather (I’d rather …)
Example Set D for I’d rather you did something
Prefer and would rather

6. Example set 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
Prefer and would rather

7. Prefer and would rather
Continue…
I prefer this coat to the coat you were wearing yesterday.
I prefer driving to traveling by train.
but
I prefer to drive rather than travel by train.
Sarah prefers to live in the country rather than (live) in a city.
Prefer and would rather

8. Prefer and would rather
Agenda
Learning Objectives
Example Set A for Prefer to do and prefer doing
Example Set B for Would prefer (I’d prefer …)
Example Set C for Would rather (I’d rather …)
Example Set D for I’d rather you did something
Prefer and would rather

9. Example Set B - Would prefer (I’d prefer …)
We use would prefer to say what somebody wants in a specific situation (not in general):
‘Would you prefer tea or coffee?’ ‘Coffee, please.’
‘Coffee, please.’
‘Would you prefer tea or coffee?’
Prefer and would rather

10. Prefer and would rather
Continue…
We say ‘would prefer to do something’ (not doing):
‘Shall we go by train?’ ‘I’d prefer to drive.’ (not I’d prefer driving)
I’d prefer to stay at home tonight rather than go to the cinema.
‘I’d prefer to drive.’
‘Shall we go by train?’
Prefer and would rather

11. Prefer and would rather
Agenda
Learning Objectives
Example Set A for Prefer to do and prefer doing
Example Set B for Would prefer (I’d prefer …)
Example Set C for Would rather (I’d rather …)
Example Set D for I’d rather you did something
Prefer and would rather

12. Example Set C - Would rather (I’d rather …)
Would rather (do) = would prefer (to do). We use would rather + infinitive (without to).
Compare:
‘Shall we go by train?’
‘Would you rather have tea or coffee?’ ‘Coffee, please.’
‘I’d prefer to drive.’
‘I’d rather drive.’ (not to drive)
Prefer and would rather

13. Prefer and would rather
Continue…
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.’
We say ‘would rather do something than do something else’:
I’d rather stay at home tonight than go to the cinema.
Prefer and would rather

14. Prefer and would rather
Agenda
Learning Objectives
Example Set A for Prefer to do and prefer doing
Example Set B for Would prefer (I’d prefer …)
Example Set C for Would rather (I’d rather …)
Example Set D for I’d rather you did something
Prefer and would rather

15. Example Set D – I’d rather you did something
We say ‘I’d rather you did something’ (not I’d rather you do). For example:
‘Shall I stay here?’ ‘I’d rather you came with us.’ (= I would prefer this)
‘I’ll repair your bike tomorrow, OK? ‘I’d rather you did it today.’
‘Are you going to tell them what happened?’ ‘No, I’d rather they didn’t know.’
Shall I tell them, or would you rather they didn’t know?
Prefer and would rather

16. Prefer and would rather
Continue…
In this structure we use the past (came, did etc.), but the meaning is present not past.
Compare:
I’d rather make dinner now.
I’d rather you made dinner now. (not I’d rather you make)
Prefer and would rather

17. Prefer and would rather
Continue…
I’d rather you didn’t (do something) = I’d prefer you not to do it:
I’d rather you didn’t tell anyone what I said.
‘Shall I tell Linda what happened?’ ‘I’d rather you didn’t.’
Prefer and would rather

18. Prefer and would rather
Summary
Learning Objectives
Example Set A for Prefer to do and prefer doing
Example Set B for Would prefer (I’d prefer …)
Example Set C for Would rather (I’d rather …)
Example Set D for I’d rather you did something
Prefer and would rather