Would rather, (would) prefer – expressing preference

would rather

 

would rather + infinitive … (than)

 
We use would rather + infinitive (without to) to talk about preference. We can use it with than (+noun/infinitive) in affirmative sentences or with or in questions.

• I‘d  rather have tea, please. 
• I‘d  rather have tea than drink that coffee. 
• Would you rather have tea or coffee?
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would rather + subject + past simple

 
We can use would rather + subject + past simple to refer to the present or future.

• We‘d rather she was/were with us now.*
• She‘d rather I picked her up after lunch. 
• Would you rather we went by bus or by train?

Note that we can use were instead of was with I/he/she after would rather + subject.

prefer

 

(would) prefer + to + infinitive … (rather than/instead of)

 
We use prefer/would prefer + noun or to + infinitive to talk about specific preference, i.e. what we prefer on a specific occasion.

• I would prefer to stay in a hotel near the airport. (or I would rather stay…)
• Most clients prefer to have breakfast in their bedroom. 

We can use prefer/would prefer with rather than or instead of to show the choices we have.

• I would prefer to be too early rather than be too late. 
• I prefer to go with dad instead of staying here with mum. 

Note that we use rather than + infinitive without to
 

prefer + -ing verb

 
We use prefer + noun or -ing verb to talk about general preference, i.e. what we prefer in general, on every occasion.

• I love running, but he prefers cycling. 

We can use prefer with to to show the choices we have. The word to is a preposition here, so if we use a verb after to, it should take the -ing form.

• He prefers walking to cycling.