Prefer / Would prefer and Would rather

Prefer/Would prefer and Would rather

A/ Prefer to do and prefer doing.

      You can use " prefer to or prefer -ing" to say what you prefer in general :

  eg. I prefer to live in the country . or I prefer living in the country.

The differences structure affter prefer:

1/ I prefer something to something else.

2/ I prefer doing something to something else.

3/ I prefer to do something rather than (do) something else.

eg. I prefer this coat to the coat you were wearing yesterday.

      I prefer to drive rather than travel by train.

B/ Would prefer ( I'd prefer......)

     We use would prefer to say what somebody wants in a particular situation. ( not in general )

eg. Would you prefer tea or coffee?

* We say: Would prefer to do. (not doing)

eg. I'd prefer to go by car. (not I'd prefer going )

      I'd prefer to stay at home rather than go to the cinema.

C/ Would rather ( I'd rather....)

Would rather (do)= Would prefer (to do)

     After would rather we use the infinitive without to.

Compare

                                           a/ I'd prefer to go by car.

- Shall we go by train? 

                                           b/ I'd rather go by car.

-Would you rather have tea ? ( not to have )

* I'd rather do something than (do) something else. 

D/ I'd rather you did something = I want you to do something.

When you want somebody to do something you can say:

" I'd rather you did something"

eg. I'd rather you came with us.

      I'd rather they didn't know.