Unit V Express preferences

We often use words like:
prefer = preferir
would prefer = preferiria
would rather

to talk or ask about preferences

"I prefer drinking orange juice only at breakfast, so maybe I'd rather have something else."
"Would you prefer apple juice or white grape juice? Which would you rather have?"
"Would you rather have a hot drink?"
"We prefer tea to coffee, so we usually have tea in the house."
Those expressions are quite different in meaning and this is why learners of English often find them challenging.
So here is how we can separate them:
Difference in meaning:
We tend to use 'prefer' to talk generally about likes, dislikes, what we want.
The expressions 'would prefer' and 'would rather', to be a little more specific.
For example:
“I prefer drinking orange juice only at breakfast. - a general preferences
“Would you prefer apple juice or oranage juice?”
“Would you rather have a hot drink?” - you are given a specific choice.
Difference in form
- followed by different verb from
I prefer staying at home on a rainy day. (followed by the gerund; the '-ing' ending)
Would you prefer to have a cup of coffee or some tea? (followed by the infinitive; to+ the verb)
What would you rather have? (followed by the base form of the verb; the verb without 'to'.
We also use different prepositions to state the choice.
- prefer, would prefer – go with 'to'
“I'd prefer going for a walk to taking a nap.”
“I would (I'd) prefer a walk to a nap”.

- Would rather – goes with 'than'
“I would (I'd) rather watch a movie than a talk show.”
“I'd rather see a movie than watch a talk show.”
============

1. You can check your understanding as you match the questions below with suitable endings:
Would you prefer ...?
Would you rather ....?

- taking a nap or going for a walk
- a trip to Jamaica or a cruise to Alaska
- watch a talk show or see a movie
- to stay at home or go outside with friends

2. Practice asking and answering questions of the same type with friends or Englishbaby members.