structure · neutral

prefer + V-ing / prefer to + V

Band 4-5speakingtask2

Expresses liking one thing more than another; 'prefer + V-ing' for general preferences, 'prefer to + V' often for specific choices or polite statements.

Examples

“I prefer reading to watching TV.”

“I prefer to read in the evening.”

“Would you prefer coffee or tea?”

Band 8 sentence

“Overall, I prefer reading nonfiction to novels because it helps me learn about the world.”

Collocations

  • prefer A to B
  • prefer to V rather than V

Word family

would prefer + to V modal phraseprefer A to B verb phrase

Common mistakes

I prefer to cook every weekend (meaning general habit).→I prefer cooking every weekend.

I prefer eat vegetables.→I prefer eating vegetables.

Say it for a higher band

5like + V-ing→6prefer to + V (overuse)→7+prefer + V-ing / prefer to + V (appropriate use)

Synonyms

like V-ing more

Easily confused

would rather + V / would rather + sb + past

“I'd rather stay at home tonight.”

Related words

look forward to + V-ingtry + V-ing / try to + Vfor + somebody + to + Vavoid + V-ingbe likely to + Vbegin / start + V-ing / to + Vprevent + somebody + from + V-ingturn out + to + V

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In Gerunds & infinitives

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