Talking about preferences - using 'prefer',

'like better' and 'would rather'

'Which do you prefer tea or coffee?'

When you want to state your preferences, you can use like better, prefer, and would rather.
Let’s have a look at these three expressions today.

You can express a preference with this structure: like [something 1] better than [something
2]. In this case something can be a noun or a gerund (verbING)

 I like jazz better than classical music.

 Jack said he likes traveling for work better than staying in the office all the time.
 Do you like coffee better than tea?

You can also express a preference using prefer [something 1] to [something 2]. In this case
too, something can be a noun or a gerund (verbING)

 I prefer jazz to classical music.

 Jack said he prefers traveling for work to staying in the office all the time.
 Do you prefer coffee to tea?

Finally, you can also express a preference using would rather [verb] than ~ When you use
this structure, the verb is always in the base form. In a question, we usually use would rather
+ or when asking about preferences.

 I would rather listen to jazz than classical music.

 Jack said he would rather travel for work than stay in the office all the time.
 Would you rather drink coffee or tea?
In general use
There are different ways we can ask about preferences. To ask about people’s general tastes
or preferences we can use one of the following. They all have the same meaning:

Which do you prefer tea or coffee?

I prefer tea to coffee.

Which do you prefer drinking tea or coffee?

I prefer drinking tea to coffee.

Which do you prefer to drink tea or coffee? (Notice: prefer to + present simple)
I prefer to drink tea than coffee.

Which do you like better tea or coffee?

I like tea better than coffee.

Do you prefer tea or coffee?

I prefer tea to coffee.

At a specific time

Imagine that a friend is visiting your home. You offer to make them a drink. You ask:

Would you prefer tea or coffee?

Tea, please.

Unreal situations

For unreal situations we use ‘would’:

Unfortunately, there is no chance that you will marry Brad Pitt or Johnny Depp. It is an
unreal situation, so we ask (Notice that 'rather' is always followed by a verb'):

Would you rather marry Brad Pitt or Johnny Depp?

I’d rather marry Johnny Depp than Brad Pitt. I think he’s sexier!

Another example of this would be:

Would you rather be a bird or a dolphin?

I’d rather be a bird than a dolphin because I don’t like fish!

Negative answers

Would you rather marry Brad Pitt or Johnny Depp?

I’d rather not marry either. I’d rather marry David Beckham.

Would you rather be a bird or a dolphin?

I’d rather not be either. I'd rather be a cow.

Now complete the sentences using the correct word:

 Would you ___ to meet at 6 or 7?

prefer
would rather
rather

 Who do you ___ Chelsea or Manchester United?

rather
prefer
better

 Which do you ___ better McDonanld's or Burger King?

prefer
like
rather

 Would you ___ go to the cinema or to a restaurant?

 rather
like better
prefer

 Which do you ___ eat chocolate or ice-cream?

prefer
prefer to
rather

 Who does she ___ you or me?

prefer to
rather
like better

 I would rather ___ go to either.

not
prefer
to