grammar · neutral

Prefer + V-ing to + V-ing

Band 6-7speakingtask2

Used to say you like one activity more than another. The common structure is 'prefer + V-ing to + V-ing'.

Examples

“I prefer cycling to driving because it's healthier.”

“She prefers studying in the morning to studying at night.”

“Many people prefer working from home to commuting every day.”

Band 8 sentence

“Many commuters prefer cycling to driving because it saves money and reduces stress.”

Collocations

  • prefer + V-ing to + V-ing
  • prefer + to + V rather than + V-ing

Common mistakes

I prefer to go to school than staying at home.→I prefer going to school to staying at home.

I prefer to read rather than reading.→I prefer reading to reading less (or) I prefer to read rather than to watch TV.

Say it for a higher band

5like ... more than ...→6would prefer ...→7+Prefer + V-ing to + V-ing

Synonyms

like ... more than ...

Easily confused

Would rather + V

“I would rather stay home tonight than go out.”

Related words

By the time + clause, clauseWhether + clause (or not)So + adjective + that + clauseEven if + clause, clauseSuch + (a/an) + noun + that + clauseIf + past perfect, would have + past participleOn the one hand + clause; on the other hand + clauseGiven that + clause, + clause

Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.

In Complex sentences

Learn it with its set