Would Rather and Prefer

Talking About Preferences

In English, we have several ways to say what we prefer. The three most common patterns at B1 are:

prefer — for general preferences
would prefer — for a specific occasion
would rather — for a specific occasion (often more conversational)

I prefer tea to coffee. (in general)

I would prefer tea, please. (right now)

I would rather have tea. (right now)

These three patterns mean almost the same thing, but they each follow slightly different grammar.

Prefer (General Preferences)

Use prefer to talk about what you like in general. The structure depends on what comes after.

Structure	Example
`prefer + noun + to + noun`	`I prefer tea to coffee.`
`prefer + -ing + to + -ing`	`I prefer walking to driving.`
`prefer + to-infinitive`	`I prefer to walk in the morning.`
`prefer + -ing`	`I prefer walking in the morning.`

She prefers cats to dogs.

He prefers reading to watching TV.

I prefer to live in a small town.

Notice the preposition is to, not than, when comparing two things.

Wrong	Right
~~I prefer tea than coffee.~~	`I prefer tea to coffee.`
~~She prefers walking than driving.~~	`She prefers walking to driving.`

Would Prefer (Specific Occasion)

Use would prefer (often shortened to 'd prefer) to say what you want on a specific occasion.

Structure	Example
`would prefer + noun`	`I'd prefer a coffee, please.`
`would prefer + to-infinitive`	`I'd prefer to stay in tonight.`
`would prefer + not + to-infinitive`	`I'd prefer not to talk about it.`

We'd prefer to eat outside.

Would you prefer tea or coffee?

I'd prefer not to walk in the rain.

To compare two specific options, use rather than:

I'd prefer to drive **rather than** take the bus.

She'd prefer to stay home **rather than** go out tonight.

Would Rather (Specific Occasion)

Would rather (often shortened to 'd rather) is very common in everyday English. It means almost the same as would prefer, but the grammar is different — it is followed by a base verb, not a to-infinitive.

Structure	Example
`would rather + base verb`	`I'd rather stay home tonight.`
`would rather + base verb + than + base verb`	`I'd rather walk than drive.`
`would rather not + base verb`	`I'd rather not go out tonight.`

We'd rather eat at home. (Not: ~~We’d rather to eat at home.~~)

Would you rather have tea or coffee?

He'd rather not talk about it.

Compare prefer / would prefer / would rather

Look at the same idea in three patterns:

Pattern	Example
`prefer` (general)	`I prefer to walk to work.`
`would prefer` (specific)	`I'd prefer to walk today.`
`would rather` (specific)	`I'd rather walk today.`

Comparing two options	Pattern
`I prefer tea to coffee.`	`prefer + X + to + Y`
`I'd prefer to drink tea rather than coffee.`	`would prefer + to-inf + rather than + base verb`
`I'd rather drink tea than coffee.`	`would rather + base verb + than + base verb`

Would Rather + Subject + Past Simple

Here is the trickiest pattern. When you want someone else to do (or not do) something, use would rather + subject + past simple.

I'd rather you didn't smoke in here. (= Please do not smoke. The past tense didn't does not refer to past time.)

I'd rather she came tomorrow. (= I prefer for her to come tomorrow, not today.)

We'd rather you stayed a bit longer.

She'd rather we didn't tell anyone.

This is similar to wish + past simple: the past tense shows that the situation is hypothetical or polite, not a real past event.

Two clauses	Pattern
Two different subjects	`would rather + subject + past simple`
Same subject (just yourself)	`would rather + base verb`

Same subject	Different subjects
`I'd rather not stay here.`	`I'd rather you didn't stay here.`
`I'd rather leave early.`	`I'd rather we left early.`

Common Mistakes

Mistake	Better	Why
I prefer tea than coffee.	I prefer tea to coffee.	Use `prefer + X + to + Y`, not `than`.
I’d rather to stay home.	I’d rather stay home.	After `would rather`, use a base verb (no `to`).
I’d rather you don’t smoke here.	I’d rather you didn’t smoke here.	With a different subject, use the past simple after `would rather`.
I’d prefer walk than drive.	I’d prefer to walk rather than drive.	After `would prefer`, use a `to-infinitive`; use `rather than` to compare.
Would you rather tea or coffee?	Would you rather have tea or coffee?	`Would rather` needs a base verb (`have`).

Practice: Exercises

1 / 15

I prefer tea ___ coffee.

Summary

Use prefer + X + to + Y for general preferences: I prefer tea to coffee. Remember the preposition is to, never than.

Use would prefer + to-infinitive for a specific occasion: I'd prefer to stay home tonight. To compare two specific options, add rather than + base verb.

Use would rather + base verb for the same idea, more conversational: I'd rather stay home. Compare with than + base verb: I'd rather walk than drive.

For the special case where you want someone else to do (or not do) something, use would rather + subject + past simple: I'd rather you didn't smoke here. The past simple here is hypothetical, not real past time.