rather/prefer

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

1a. I would rather stay at home than go out right now.
1b. I would prefer to stay at home than (to) go out right now.
2a. I would prefer watch TV than do shopping.
2b. I would prefer to watch TV rather than (to) do shopping.
Are these sentences correct?
Does each pair mean the same?
Thanks.

2

2a should be the same as 2b. Alternatively you could use ‘watching’ and ‘doing’ - though it then becomes a general statement of preference rather than a specific preference based on hos the person currently feels.

3

Beeesneees,
1c. I would prefer staying at home than going out right now.
2c. I would prefer watching TV rather than doing shopping.
Are they correct?
Thanks.

4

1c. I would prefer to stayat home than (to) go out right now.
2c. I prefer watching TV rather than doing shopping. /I would prefer to watch TV rather than do shopping.

5

Beeesneees,
1a. I prefer to watch TV than do shopping.
1b. I would prefer watch TV than do shopping.
1c. I would prefer watch TV rather than do shopping.
2. I prefer watching TV rather than doing shopping.
3. I would prefer watching TV than doing shopping.
Please confirm that they are correct or not.
Thanks.

6

1a. I prefer to watch TV than do shopping.
1b. I would prefer to watch TV than do shopping.
1c. I would prefer to watch TV rather than do shopping.
2. I prefer watching TV rather than doing shopping.
3. I would prefer watching TV rather than doing shopping.

7

Beeesneees,
1a) I prefer to play football than tennis.
1b) I prefer to play football to play tennis.
1c) I prefer to play football to tennis.
1d) I prefer to play football rather than tennis.
2a) I prefer playing football to tennis.
2b) I prefer playing football to playing tennis.
2c) I prefer playing football than tennis.
2d) I prefer playing football than playing tennis.
2e) I prefer playing football rather than tennis.
3a. I prefer milk chocolate to plain chocolate.
3b. I prefer milk chocolate than plain chocolate.
Please correct the above sentences.
Thanks.

8

1a) I prefer playing football rather than tennis.
1b) I’d prefer playing football to playing tennis.

I’m really not going to spend time correcting all the other examples in the same way over and over.

9

Canadian45,
Could you at least help me to get right answers for my quires above.
I am confused with its syntax.
Thanks.

10

Beeesneees,

  1. I prefer playing football to tennis.
  2. I prefer playing football to playing tennis.
  3. I prefer playing football rather than tennis.
    Are these sentences acceptable?
    Thanks.
11

yes

12

Beeesneees,

  1. I am lazy and I always would rather to lie down rather than work.
  2. I am lazy and I always would rather lie down rather than work.
    Please correct the above sentences.
    Thanks.
13

I am lazy and I would always rather lie down than work.

I am lazy and whenever possible I would rather lie down than work.