What is the difference between prefer and would prefer?

Both “prefer” & “would prefer” express the preference. This site said “You can use ‘prefer to (do)’ or ‘prefer -ing’ to say what you prefer in general” & “We use ‘would prefer’ to say what somebody wants in a particular situation (not in general)”.

What is the difference between prefer to do and prefer doing?

But really there’s no difference. Sometimes you have to use the gerund form when making a comparison. So you can’t say She prefers to play basketball to to play chess. You can instead say She prefers to play basketball to playing chess OR She prefers to play basketball rather than to play chess.

What is the difference between would rather and prefer?

Note that would rather is followed by a bare infinitive without to, whereas prefer requires to + infinitive. Would rather (but not would prefer to) is also followed by a past tense when we want to involve other people in the action, even though it has a present or future meaning.

Can we use rather and prefer together?

When we talk about general preferences we can use prefer or would rather. The meaning is the same, for example: I prefer walking to cycling. I’d rather walk than cycle.

How do you use prefer?

We use prefer to say we like one thing or activity more than another. We can use a prepositional phrase with to when we compare two things or actions: I prefer tea to coffee. We prefer going by ferry to flying.

What’s the difference between I’d rather And I’d prefer?

Would rather is followed by the infinitive without to. Would prefer is followed by to + infinitive or a noun. I’d rather have fruit juice. I’d prefer to have fruit juice.

How do you use rather instead of prefer?

The easiest way to look at this is: rather is followed by a verb – Example – I rather go to the mall. prefer is followed by an infinitive – Example – I prefer to go to the mall.

Can we use rather than with prefer?

I prefer coffee to tea. We use “rather than” to compare 2 things that we would prefer to do: I’d prefer to walk than get a taxi. I’d prefer to walk rather than get a taxi.

Would prefer meaning?

We use prefer to say we like one thing or activity more than another. We can use a prepositional phrase with to when we compare two things or actions: … Would prefer. We use would prefer or ‘d prefer, followed by a to-infinitive or a noun, to talk about present and future preferences: …

What is the difference between prefer and rather?

As verbs the difference between prefer and rather is that prefer is while rather is (nonstandard|or|dialectal) to prefer ; to prefer to. As a adverb rather is (obsolete) more quickly; sooner, earlier. As a adjective rather is (obsolete) prior; earlier; former.

How to use “prefer”?

prefer noun phrase to noun phrase. I prefer coffee to tea. (This means that I like coffee more than tea.

What does perfer mean?

to set or hold before or above other persons or things in estimation; like better; choose rather than: to prefer beef to chicken. Law. to give priority, as to one creditor over another. to put forward or present (a statement, suit, charge, etc.) for consideration or sanction.

What is the definition of prefer?

Definition of prefer. transitive verb. 1 : to promote or advance to a rank or position. 2 : to like better or best prefers sports to reading prefers to watch TV. 3 : to give (a creditor) priority.