Expressing Preference in English: Prefer, Would Prefer, Would Rather and More

Expressing preference in English means saying that you like one person, thing or course of action more than another. We do this constantly in everyday conversation:

• I prefer tea to coffee.
• I’d rather stay at home tonight.
• We’d prefer to travel by train.
• She chose the blue dress rather than the black one.

Although these expressions have similar meanings, they follow different grammatical patterns. In this lesson, you will learn how to use prefer, would prefer, would rather, rather than and several other useful phrases naturally and correctly.

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Prefer: Talking about General Preferences

We use prefer when talking about things we generally like more than others. There are several useful structures for expressing preference in English, and each one follows a slightly different grammar pattern.

Prefer + Noun + To + Noun

• I prefer coffee to tea.
• Helen prefers country life to city life.

Notice that we normally use to, not than, after prefer.

Incorrect:

• I prefer coffee than tea.

Correct:

• I prefer coffee to tea.

Prefer + -ing Form + To + -ing Form

We can compare two activities using:

prefer doing something to doing something else

• She prefers reading books to watching television.
• Most of my students prefer working in pairs to working alone.

The two parts should normally have the same grammatical form.

Incorrect:

• I prefer walking to drive.

Correct:

• I prefer walking to driving.

Prefer + To-Infinitive

We can also use prefer to do something when describing a general preference.

• I prefer to work in the morning.
• Our employees prefer to be paid monthly.

Both of these sentences are correct:

• I prefer reading before bed.
• I prefer to read before bed.

The -ing form often emphasises the activity itself, while the infinitive may emphasise a choice or habit. In many situations, however, there is little difference.

Prefer to Do Rather Than Do

When comparing actions with an infinitive, we can use:

prefer to do something rather than do something else

• I prefer to walk rather than take the bus.
• Michael preferred to stay at home rather than go to the match.

After rather than, we normally use the bare infinitive without to.

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Would Prefer: A Preference in a Particular Situation

We use would prefer for a specific choice or situation, rather than a general preference.

Compare:

• I prefer tea to coffee.
• I would prefer tea, please.

The first sentence describes a general preference. The second expresses what the speaker wants now.

Would Prefer + Noun

Would you prefer a window seat or an aisle seat?

• I’d prefer the blue one.
• We would prefer a room overlooking the garden.

Would Prefer + To-Infinitive

• I’d prefer to leave before it gets dark.
• Mark offered Myra a lift, but she said she would prefer to walk.

The contracted form I’d prefer is very common in conversation.

Would Prefer + Object + To-Infinitive

We can say that we want another person to do something:

would prefer someone to do something

• I’d prefer you to come a little earlier.
• We would prefer the children to remain inside.

Would Prefer It If + Past Simple

We often use this structure to make a polite request or express how we want somebody to behave:

would prefer it if + past simple

• I’d prefer it if you didn’t tell anyone about our conversation.
• We’d prefer it if you arrived before nine.

Although the verb is in the past simple, the sentence usually refers to the present or future.

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Would Rather: Choosing One Option Over Another

We use would rather when saying that we prefer one action or situation to another.

Would Rather + Bare Infinitive

After would rather, use the infinitive without to.

• I’d rather stay at home tonight.
• She would rather travel by train.

Incorrect:

• I’d rather to stay at home.

Correct:

• I’d rather stay at home.

Would Rather Do A Than Do B

Use than when comparing two actions:

• I’d rather have juice than water.
• I’d rather save money on clothes than on food.
• The princess said she would rather remain single than marry a man she did not love.

Notice the difference:

• prefer A to B
• would rather A than B

Would Rather Not

To express a negative preference, place not after rather:

• I’d rather not go out tonight.
• Would you rather not sit near the window?

Would Rather Someone Did Something

When the subject changes, we use:

would rather + person + past simple

• I’d rather you came tomorrow.
• She’d rather her children studied closer to home.

The past form does not refer to past time here. It makes the preference sound less direct and more polite.

Compare:

• I’d prefer you to stay.
• I’d rather you stayed.

Both are correct and have almost the same meaning.

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Rather Than: Contrasting Two Choices

We use rather than to show that one thing is preferred, chosen or true instead of another.

Rather Than + Noun

• My grandfather preferred houses rather than flats.
• She values experience rather than formal qualifications.

However, with prefer, the more traditional pattern is:

• My grandfather preferred houses to flats.

Verb + Rather Than + Verb

• Clare chose to learn Japanese rather than Chinese.
• He decided to apologise rather than continue the argument.

To keep the sentence balanced, use parallel grammatical forms:

• She enjoys reading rather than watching television.
• She decided to read rather than watch television.

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Instead Of

Instead of means in place of somebody or something.

It is followed by a noun, pronoun or -ing form.

• Richard used a knife and fork instead of chopsticks.
• Let’s take the train instead of the bus.

Do not use an infinitive directly after instead of.

Incorrect:

• She stayed at home instead of to go out.

Correct:

• She stayed at home instead of going out.

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Preferably

Preferably means if possible or if there is a choice.

• I’d like a table near the window, preferably somewhere quiet.
• The work should be completed by Friday, preferably before midday.

It is useful when expressing a preference without making a strong demand.

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Have a Preference For

We can use the noun preference in more formal English.

have a preference for something

• She has a preference for traditional furniture.
• Many customers have a preference for locally produced food.

We can also say:

• My preference would be to leave early.
• His first preference is to study medicine.
• Please indicate your preferred date.

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Favour

The verb favour means to prefer or support one option.

• Most employees favour flexible working hours.
• I favour the first proposal because it is less expensive.

This use is more formal and is common in reports, discussions and Cambridge exam writing.

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Be More Inclined To

Be inclined to means to be likely to choose or prefer a particular course of action.

• I’m more inclined to accept the second offer.he is inclined to agree with her parents.
• Most voters were inclined to support the proposal.

This expression is useful at B2 and C1 level when you want to sound less direct.

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Settle For

Settle for means to accept something that is not your first choice because a better option is unavailable.

• We wanted a larger flat, but we had to settle for a smaller one.
• The hotel was full, so we settled for a room without a balcony.

This does not simply express preference. It implies accepting a less desirable alternative.

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Prefer, Would Prefer or Would Rather?

Use prefer for general likes and habits:

• I prefer working alone.

Use would prefer for a specific situation:

• I’d prefer to work alone today.

Use would rather for a specific choice, followed by a bare infinitive:

• I’d rather work alone today.

The following table summarises the most important structures for expressing preference in English. 

prefer + noun + to + noun	general preference	I prefer tea to coffee.
prefer + -ing + to + -ing	general preference between activities	I prefer walking to driving.
prefer to + verb	general choice or habit	I prefer to travel by train.
would prefer + noun	specific preference	I’d prefer tea, please.
would prefer to + verb	specific preferred action	I’d prefer to leave now.
would rather + bare infinitive	specific preferred action	I’d rather leave now.
would rather A than B	comparison between actions	I’d rather walk than drive.
would rather + person + past simple	preference about another person	I’d rather you stayed.

Common Mistakes When Expressing Preference in English

Mistake 1: Using Than After Prefer

Incorrect:

• I prefer tea than coffee.

Correct:

• I prefer tea to coffee.

Mistake 2: Using To After Would Rather

Incorrect:

• I would rather to stay at home.

Correct:

• I would rather stay at home.

Mistake 3: Using To Instead of Than

Incorrect:

• I’d rather walk to drive.

Correct:

• I’d rather walk than drive.

Mistake 4: Using the Wrong Form After Instead Of

Incorrect:

• I stayed home instead of to go out.

Correct:

• I stayed home instead of going out.

Mistake 5: Mixing Grammatical Forms

Incorrect:

• I prefer reading to watch television.

Correct:

• I prefer reading to watching television.

Mistake 6: Using Present Simple After Would Rather

Less natural:

• I’d rather you come tomorrow.

Standard form:

• I’d rather you came tomorrow.

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Expressing Preference in Polite Conversation

Here are several useful expressions for making choices politely:

• I’d prefer the earlier appointment, if possible.
• I’d rather not decide immediately.
• My preference would be to meet online.
• I’m more inclined to choose the second option.
• Either is fine, but I’d prefer the window seat.
• I have no strong preference.
• I don’t mind either way.
• If I had to choose, I’d go for the blue one.
• Given the choice, I’d rather work from home.
• I’d favour a more practical solution.

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Expressing Preference in English: Practice Questions

Answer these questions using prefer, would prefer or would rather:

1. Do you prefer tea or coffee?
2. Would you prefer to live in a city or in the countryside?
3. Would you rather travel alone or with other people?
4. Do you prefer reading books to watching films?
5. Would you rather work from home or in an office?
6. What type of holiday do you prefer?
7. Would you prefer people to call before visiting you?
8. Would you rather your family lived nearby?
9. Do you have a preference for British or American English?
10. If you had to choose, would you rather have more money or more free time?

Download Expressing Preference in English Practice Worksheet in PDF here

Final Thoughts

Expressing preference in English involves more than knowing a few useful phrases. You also need to choose the correct grammatical structure.

Remember:

• use prefer A to B for general preferences;
• use would prefer to do for a particular situation;
• use would rather do without to;
• use would rather A than B when comparing actions;
• use instead of + noun or -ing when replacing one option with another.

Practise these structures by talking about your own choices, routines and opinions. The more personal your examples are, the easier the language will be to remember.

Related posts:

Talking about Choices in English 

How to Use Would Rather 

Using ‘Would’ to Be Polite 

20 Polite and Advanced Phrases for Making Suggestions in English 

Better Ways to Agree and Disagree in English 

B2 First Grammar 

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