structure · academic

be preferable to + noun/gerund

Band 7+task2speaking

to be considered a better option than something else

Examples

It would be preferable to invest in education rather than cut funding.

Renewable sources are often preferable to fossil fuels in the long term.

It is preferable to consult experts before implementing large-scale reforms.

Band 8 sentence

For long-term economic resilience, targeted social spending is preferable to indiscriminate subsidies.

Collocations

  • preferable to
  • far/much preferable to

Word family

preferable (adj) adjectivepreferably (adv) adverb

Common mistakes

I prefer to coffee than tea.I prefer coffee to tea.

It is preferable than investing now.It is preferable to invest now.

Say it for a higher band

5like ... more6prefer + A + to + B7+be preferable to + noun/gerund

Synonyms

preferable

Easily confused

prefer + noun/gerund + to + noun/gerund

I prefer walking to driving.

Related words

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In Comparatives

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