Would Rather (Sooner) vs Would Prefer 3

Index

Complete the sentences using the words in bold. Use two to five words. Put in commas where necessary.

1) Fiona likes dogs more than cats.
PREFERS

2) Please don't smoke in the office.
YOU

3) She doesn't want us to buy her a new car.
SOONER

4) Michael would rather play football than do his homework.
PREFER

5) I'd rather you didn't listen to music while I'm watching TV.
IF

6) James thinks going to pubs is better than staying at home.
TO

7) We'd rather you didn't talk about Susan like that!
NOT

8) Ann says she doesn't want to dance tonight.
RATHER

Test Answers!

ANSWERS 1: PREFERS DOGS TO
Prefer is used to say what you prefer in general.
Prefer + noun + to + noun
Common Errors:
~~She prefers cats than dogs~~. X
She prefers cats to dogs. V

ANSWERS 2: YOU DIDN'T SMOKE | YOU DID NOT SMOKE
Would rather is the same as would sooner. Would rather + she, you etc + past simple (present/future) expresses that we would like someone else to do something.
Common Errors:
~~She prefers cats than dogs~~. X
She prefers cats to dogs. V

ANSWERS 3: SOONER WE DIDN'T BUY | SOONER WE DID NOT BUY
Would sooner is the same as would rather. Would sooner + she, you etc + past simple (present/future) expresses that we would like someone else to do something.
Common Errors:
~~I would rather you not go to the party tonight~~. X
I would rather you didn't go to the party tonight. V

ANSWERS 4: PREFER TO PLAY FOOTBALL RATHER
Would prefer is used to say what somebody wants in a particular situation (not in general).
Would prefer to do something + rather than + (do) something.
Common Errors:
~~She would prefer go to the party rather than stay at home~~. X
She would prefer to go to the party rather than stay at home. V

ANSWERS 5: IT IF YOU DIDN'T | IT IF YOU DID NOT
Would prefer + it + if is used as a part of a second conditional. Note that would prefer in this type of sentence has an object "it".
Would prefer + it + if + she, you etc. + past simple (present/future).
Common Errors:
~~I would prefer you didn't drink so much~~. X
I would prefer it if you didn't drink so much. V

ANSWERS 6: PUBS TO STAYING
We use prefer + ing to say what you prefer in general.
Prefer doing sth + to + doing sth.
Common Errors:
~~He prefers fishing than jogging~~. X
He prefers fishing to jogging. V

ANSWERS 7: NOT TO TALK
Would prefer is used to say what somebody wants in a particular situation (not in general).
Would prefer not to do something (in the negative form).
Common Errors:
~~She would prefer not go to the party~~. X
She would prefer not to go to the party.V

ANSWERS 8: RATHER NOT DANCE
Would rather is the same as would sooner. It is followed by an infinitive without to.
Would rather not do something (in the negative form).
Common Errors:
~~I wouldn't rather go to Scotland~~. X
I would rather not go to Scotland. V