ENGLISH GRAMMAR

EXPRESSING PREFERENCES
(WOULD RATHER & PREFER)

By :

Rahmi Syarifuddin
Hana Junika
Lusi Anisa
(PBI III B)

UNIVERSITAS ISLAM NEGERI

SULTAN SYARIF KASIM
PEKANBARU RIAU
2014

EXPRESSING PREFERENCES (WOULD RATHER & PREFER)

1. INTRODUCTION
We often use words like prefer, would rather to talk or ask about preferences or to show a
choice from different options .

"I prefer living on my own."

"Would you rather go shopping with me?"
Those expressions are quite different in meaning and this is why learners of English often find
them challenging. So here is how we can separate them:

2. CONTENT
A. FUNCTION
a. To talk about general preferences
b. To talk about specific preferences
B. PATTERNS AND EXAMPLES
1. Prefer
Patterns:
Prefer + to infinitive
Prefer + nouns + to + nouns
Prefer + V-ing + to + V-ing
e.g:
They prefer to stay home
My mother prefers lemon to orange juice
She prefers swimming to dancing
2. Would Rather
Patterns:
Would rather + bare infinitives
Would rather + bare infinitives + than + bare infinitives
Would rather + bare infinitives + nouns + than + bare infinitives + nouns
Would rather + someone + Bentuk II
e.g:
I would rather study now
She would rather stay home than go shopping
You'd rather speak English than French
Id rather you went now

3. CONCLUSION
Difference in meaning:
We tend to use 'prefer' to talk generally about likes, dislikes, what we want.

He prefers reading books.

I prefer going to the beach than going to a swimming pool.
The expressions 'would prefer' and 'would rather', to be a little more specific.
I would prefer to see him in person.
I would rather go home now.
4. EXERCISES
Choose A, B, C, or D as the best answer.
1. She ....... bread ....... rice for breakfast every morning.
a. Prefers than
b. Prefers to
c. Prefer to
d. Prefer rather than
2. Antonio ..............
a. Prefer listening to the radio to watching television
b. Prefers playing tennis to play badminton on Sundays
c. Prefers reading books to watching televisions on Sundays
d. Like swimming to go jogging on Sundays
3. We sometimes ........ go to the teathre ......... stay at home at the weekends.
a. Prefer to rather than to
b. Prefer than to
c. Prefer to rather to
d. Prefer to to
4. She prefers sleeping ............. television.
a. To watch
b. Watch
c. Watching
d. To watching
5. My little brother prefers to watch television ........
a. Rather to read magazines
b. Rather than listening to the radio
c. Rather than read scientific books
d. To read comics
6. He prefers swimming to .........
a. Walk
b. Sleep
c. Jogging
d. Run
7. She . . . . . . . . . . . . staying at home.
a. Prefers
b. Prefer
c. Rather
d. Would

8. I . . . . . . . . . . . . cycling to walking.
a. Rather
b. Would
c. Prefers
d. Prefer
9. I . . . . . . . . . . . . go on foot than have a lift in your car.
a. Would rather
b. Would
c. Prefer
d. Rather
10. Many people prefer . . . . . . . . . . . . at home to . . . . . . . . . . . . out in winter.
a. Stay-going
b. Go-staying
c. Staying-going
d. Going-staying
11. Do you prefer . . . . . . . . . . . . tea or coffee?
a. Drinking
b. Drinks
c. Drunk
d. Drank
11. Edward : How do you go to school?
Jacob

: I ride my motor bike. What about you?

Edward : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Its healthy. Besides, my house is only two

kilometers away from school.
a.
b.
c.
d.

I prefer cycling to riding a motor bike

I would cycling to riding a motorbike
I prefer cycling than riding a motorbike
Im cycling to riding a motorbike

12. Teacher : What is your hobby, Lusi?

Lucy

: My hobby is listening to music, Maam

Teacher

: How about you?

Zahra

:.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

a.
b.
c.
d.

I prefer watch TV than listen to music

I prefer watch TV would than listen to music
I would rather watch TV than listen to music
I would watch TV than listen to music

13. Waiter : What would you like to order, madam?

Woman : Id like to have a salad, please.
Waiter : Would you prefer vegetable salad or fruit salad?
Woman : . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Waiter : Certainly. What would you like to drink? Iced tea perhaps
Woman : Id rather have lemon tea without ice at this time of the day
a.
b.
c.
d.

I prefer vegetable salad than fruit salad, please.

I would prefer vegetable salad to fruit salad, please.
I like vegetable salad would fruit salad, please.
I prefer vegetable salad to fruit salad, please.

14. Jason : Would you like to hang out with me?

Anna : Thanks, but I prefer to stay in home
Jason : Thats alright. Maybe next time.
a.
b.
c.
d.

Thanks, but I would to stay in home

Thanks, but I like stayed in home
Thanks, but I prefer to stay in home
Thank you