To express specific preference To express a general preference When we speak about a specific preference would rather e would prefer have the same meaning. After would prefer we can use a noun or to-infinitive. After would rather we use an infinitive without to. Ex.: We went to the cinema last weekend. Today I would rather stay at home Or We went to the cinema last weekend. Today I would prefer to stay at home We use a past tense after would rather when we speak about the actions of other people, even though that action may be in the present or future. Ex.: I d rather you came with me than stay here alone. It s dangerous to cross the park at night. This work is quite heavy. I d rather you didn t take it. When we compare things we use would rather than/ would prefer rather than. It s such a fantastic working environment. I d rather work here than in my office. It s such a fantastic environment. I d prefer to work here rather than in my office. I- Let s complete the following sentences with one of the above structures. 1- I not to become a computer programmer. 2- They to interview you at 5 p.m. 3- come on Monday or Tuesday? 4- My best friend chatting online to talking on the phone. 5- I to go to the cinema rather than go to the theatre. 6- I you admitted you made a mistake. 7- They having a full time job to a part-time job. 8- I not to talk about my working life. 9- She work with a different person. 10- I to have a job rather than live on my parents expenses. 11- They contract him than her, because he is very pragmatic. When we speak about a general preference we can use prefer+gerund to+gerund/prefer+to infinitive +infinitive or would rather+infinitive than+infinitive. EX.:I prefer studying Maths to writing poetry. I d rather study Maths than write poetry. Prefer can be followed by a noun, gerund or infinitive. I prefer a computer to a typewriter I Prefer working with a computer to using a mobile phone. I prefer to work with a computer rather than use a mobile phone. II- Fill in the gaps with the verbs in the most suitable form. 1- She prefers (work) alone to (work) in a team. 2- They d rather (have) a part-time job (be) on the dole. 3- They would prefer (receive) weekly (be paid) monthly as they are.. 4- She prefers (study) (work). 5- He would prefer (be) an engineer rather than a doctor. 6- Would you prefer (work) in Portugal or abroad? 7- I d rather (invest) in Portugal than in Brazil. 8- They d prefer (not/have) a well-paid job rather than (do) something they don t like. 9- She would rather (be) unemployed than (work) for this company. 10- I d rather my daughter (go) on studying than (start) working. 11- We prefer (have) holidays in summer to holidays in winter. 12- They would rather (go) on strike than (accept) those bad working conditions.
EXPRESSING PREFERENCES TALKING ABOUT GENERAL PREFERENCES Form: prefer + Ving to Ving would rather V 1 than V 1 Prefer and would rather can be used interchangeably. When we are talking about general preferences:. I prefer watching TV to playing computer games. I d rather watch TV than play computer games. TALKING ABOUT SPECIFICS Form: would rather to + V 1 would rather + V 1 When we are talking about specific preferences, would rather is used as an alternative to would prefer to. It is very common in spoken English. Would you like to go out for dinner tonight? No, I think I d rather eat at home. They d rather have the cherries by themselves, but I d prefer to have them with a piece of vanilla cake. Form: love + Ving / would love to V1 interested in + noun / Ving fancy + Ving / noun don t mind / Ving keen on + noun / Ving love keen mind fancy I m more interested in the cinema than the theatre. I d love to see the new movie. I don t fancy going to the opera. I don t mind going to the concert. I m not keen on classical music.
E X P R E S S I N G I D E A S Decide how the following phrases are used and put them in the appropriate box: 1/ I m very keen on 2/ I daresay 3/ I can t bear. 4/ In my opinion 5/ I d rather (+V) 6/ I m convinced that. 7/ It doesn t matter. 8/ I hate 9/ It seems to me that 10/ From my point of view 11/ I can t stand. 12/ I have a weakness for 13/ All the same to me. 14/ Personally I believe 15/ I don t care. 16/ I dislike 17/ I m under the impression that 18/ I like. better than. 19/ I don t mind at all. 20/ It doesn t appeal to me 21/ As far as I m concerned 22/ It isn t really my thing / my favourite 23/ To my mind 24/ There s nothing I like more than 25/ I really enjoy 26/ As I see it 27/ I m very fond of 28/ I don t like 29/ I have a soft spot for 30/ I d prefer to (+V) 31/ It s not my kind of... / my cup of tea
1/ GIVING OPINION 2/ SAYING ONE S LIKES 3/ SAYING ONE S DISLIKES 4/ PREFERENCES - 5/ INDIFFERENCE
E X P R E S S I N G I D E A S Decide how the following phrases are used and put them in the appropriate box: In my opinion As I see it Personally I believe It seems to me that I m under the impression that I m convinced that. I daresay To my mind From my point of view As far as I m concerned I m very keen on I m very fond of I really enjoy There s nothing I like more than I have a weakness for I have a soft spot for GIVING OPINION SAYING ONE S LIKES SAYING ONE S DISLIKES It isn t really my thing / my favourite It s not my kind of... / my cup of tea It doesn t appeal to me I can t bear. I can t stand. I hate I dislike I don t like I d prefer to (+V) I d rather (+V) I like. better than. I don t care. All the same to me. I don t mind at all. It doesn t matter. PREFERENCES INDIFFERENCE
Example: I prefer tea to coffee. I d rather have coffee. 1 9 2 10 11 3 4 12 5 13 6 14 7 15 8 16