Can We Listen To Something Else Besides Template

ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN USE FOR INTERMEDIATE

59. Prefer and would rather

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:

but

I prefer

something

doing something

to do something

to something else.

to doing something else.

rather than (do) something else.

· I prefer this coat to the coat you were wearing yesterday.

· I prefer driving to travelling 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.

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.'

We say 'would prefer to do something' (not usually would prefer 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.

Would rather (I'd rather ...)

Would rather (do)= would prefer (to do). We use would rather + infinitive (without to ).

Compare:

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.

I' d rather somebody did something

We say 'I' d rather you did something' (not ~~I'd rather you do~~). For example:

· 'Who's going to drive, you or me?' 'I' d rather you drove .' (= I would prefer this)

· 'Jack says he'll repair your bike tomorrow, OK?' 'I' d rather he did it today.'

· Are you going to tell Anna what happened, or would you rather I told her?

In this structure we use the past ( drove, 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)

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.

· 'Are you going to tell Anna what happened?' 'No. I' d rather she didn't know.'

· 'Shall I tell Anna what happened?' 'I' d rather you didn't .'

EXERCISES

59.1

Which do you prefer? Write sentences using 'I prefer (something) to (something else)'. Put the verb into the correct form where necessary.

1	(drive /travel by train) _____I prefer driving to travelling by train. _________________________
2	(basketball /football) I prefer _________________________________________________
3	(go to the cinema I watch DVDs at home) I _________________________________________________to _____________________________________at home.
4	(be very busy I have nothing to do) I_________________________________________________

Now rewrite sentences 3 and 4 using the structure 'I prefer to (do something)'.

5	(1) ___I prefer to drive rather than travel by train ____________
6	(3) I prefer ________________________________________
7	(4) ________________________________________

59.2

Complete the sentences. Sometimes you need one word, sometimes more.

	A	B
1	Shall we walk home?	___I'd rather ____ get a taxi.
2	Do you want to eat now?	I'd prefer ___ to wait___ till later.
3	Would you like to watch TV?	I'd _____ to listen to some music.
4	Do you want to go to a restaurant?	I'd rather _________ at home.
5	Let's leave now.	_________ wait a few minutes.
6	What about a game of tennis?	I'd prefer _________ for a swim.
7	I think we should decide now.	I'd _________ think about it for a while.
8	Would you like to sit down?	_________ to stand.
9	Do you want me to come with you?	I'd rather _________ alone.

Now use the same ideas to complete these sentences using than and rather than .

10	I'd rather ___get ___a taxi __than walk__home.
11	I'd prefer _____________ for a swim _____________.
12	I'd rather _____________ at home _____________.
13	I'd prefer _____________ about it for a while_____________.
14	I'd rather _____________ some music _____________.

59.3

Complete the sentences using would you rather I ....

1	Are you going to make dinner or ___would you rather I made it____?
2	Are you going to tell Anna what happened or would you rather ______________?
3	Are you going to do the shopping or______________?
4	Are you going to phone Tanya or______________?

59.4

Use your own ideas to complete these sentences.

1	'Shall I tell Anna what happened?' 'No, I'd rather she ____didn't _____know.'
2	Do you want me to go now or would you rather 1 ___________ here?
3	Do you want to go out this evening or would you rather ___________ at home?
4	This is a private matter. I'd rather you ___________ tell anybody else.
5	I don't want to make a decision without jack and Sue. I'd rather they ___________ here.
6	A: Do you mind if I put some music on? B: I'd rather you ___________. I'm trying to study.