I’d rather vs. I’d prefer

Using "Prefer"

When you want to express a general preference, you can use either "prefer to..." or "prefer -ing":

• I don’t like cities. I prefer to live in the country. (or I prefer living in the country.)

You can say 

• I prefer this coat to the other one.

• I prefer driving to travelling by train. (or I prefer driving rather than travelling by train.)

• I prefer to drive rather than travel by train.

• Sarah prefers to live in the country rather than in a city.

Using "Would Prefer" (I’d prefer …)

We use "would prefer" to express what someone wants in a specific situation (not in general):

‘Would you prefer tea or coffee?’ ‘Coffee, please.’

We say "would prefer to do something" (not usually "would prefer doing"):

‘Shall we go by train?’ ‘I’d prefer to drive.’ (= I would prefer …)

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

"I’d rather" = "I would rather." "I’d rather do something" = I’d prefer to do it.

We say "I’d rather do" (not "to do").

Compare:

‘Shall we go by train?’                  ‘I’d rather drive.’ (not to drive)
                                                                       ‘I’d prefer to drive

Which would you rather do?            go to the cinema       or 

Which would you prefer to do?        go shopping?

The negative form is "I’d rather not …":

I’m tired. I’d rather not go out this evening, if you don’t mind.

‘Do you want to go out this evening?’ ‘I’d rather not.’

We say "I’d rather do one thing than do another":

I’d rather stay at home tonight than go to the cinema.

Using "I’d Rather Somebody Did Something"

We say "I’d rather you did something" (not "I’d rather you do"):

‘Who’s going to drive, you or me?’                                  ‘I’d rather you drove.’ (= I would prefer this)

‘Jack says he’ll repair your bike tomorrow, OK?’             ‘I’d rather he did it today.’

Are you going to tell Anna what happened, or would you rather I told her?

Note: We use the past tense (e.g., drove, did) here, but the meaning is present, not past.

Compare:

I’d rather make dinner now.

I’d rather you made dinner now. (not I’d rather you make)

"I’d rather you didn’t" = I’d prefer you not to do it:

• I’d rather you didn’t tell anyone what I said.

• ‘Shall I tell Anna what happened?’                            ‘I’d rather you didn’t.’

• ‘Are you going to tell Anna what happened?’           ‘No. I’d rather she didn’t know.’

Try this exercise to test your grammar.

Language Level