Iโ€™d prefer โ€“ Iโ€™d rather

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Iโ€™d prefer and Iโ€™d rather have very similar meanings and are used to express preference. Though they have a similar meaning but they are both used in different ways.
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Letโ€™s take a look at how we can use would prefer in a sentence:
When we are talking about a specific preference would rather goes before a noun or an infinitive.

  • I would prefer coffee.
  • We would prefer live music.
  • You would prefer to watch a movie.
  • They would prefer to go to the beach.

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When we are talking about a general preference would prefer goes before the gerund form.

  • I would prefer driving a car to riding a bike.
  • We would prefer washing the dishes to ironing the clothes.

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Notice how we use to to compare one general choice over another. When we want to compare a specific choice over another we use would preferโ€ฆinstead of.

  • I would prefer to ski instead of skateboard.
  • You would prefer chocolate instead of fruit.

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Now letโ€™s look at would rather. When we want to talk a specific or general preference would rather goes before the bare infinitive.

  • Iโ€™d rather take English lessons.
  • Theyโ€™d rather study in the evening.
  • Weโ€™d rather not go to the concert.
  • Youโ€™d rather play video games all day.

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If you want to compare ย preferences you can use the structure would ratherโ€ฆthan. For example:

  • Iโ€™d rather than English lesson than Spanish lessons.
  • Theyโ€™d rather study in the evening than study in the morning.
  • Weโ€™d rather play video games all day than go to school.
  • Iโ€™d rather drive than walk.

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We can use would rather to talk about another persons actions. To do this we use the past tense after would rather, even if we are talking about a present or future situation.

  • Iโ€™d rather you came home for dinner.
  • Weโ€™d rather she played piano than the drums.
  • The parents would rather the children watched less television.
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