When I was learning English myself, I found the usage of English extremely difficult, and it was very painful to remember and forget, and forget and remember. Next, what's the use of the prefer I brought you? Welcome everyone to learn from the reference!

First, preference+nouns

Like sth (better than sth)

When you only like one thing, the components in brackets are omitted; When comparing two things, add the components in brackets. The same below.

Details are as follows:

1. prefer sth.

Does he like a particular kind of music?

Does he like a particular kind of music?

2. like something better than others

I prefer tea to coffee.

I prefer tea to coffee.

Second, prefer+ gerund

Would rather do (than do)

Details are as follows:

1. Would rather do it. ...

I prefer watching TV at lunch.

I like watching TV at lunch.

I would rather do something than do something else.

I would rather stay at home than go out for a walk.

I'd rather stay at home than hang out.

3. preference+infinitive

Would rather do it than do it.

Details are as follows:

1. prefer to do it

I prefer staying at home.

That is, prefer to do and prefer to are interchangeable, and it can be considered that there is no difference in meaning.

2. I would rather do it than do it

I'd rather stay at home than wander around.

In other words, would rather do than do = would rather do than do.

The above three usages can be further summarized as "the usage of prefer with noun components (nouns, gerunds, infinitives)".

Prefer+ object+infinitive (as object complement)

like to do sth.

I prefer him to stay with us next season.

I prefer that he stay with us next season.

Verb (abbreviation of verb) abstract

To sum up, the usage of prefer can be condensed into two structures:

1. preferably+nominal component (to/instead of+nominal component)

Among them, if the preceding noun component is a noun/gerund, it is (to+ noun/gerund) in brackets; If the noun component is infinitive, it is in brackets (instead of+infinitive without to (that is, the "do" prototype)).

2. prefer someone to do it

Intransitive verb closure

After memorizing it, use it in writing and speaking!

Grammatical points of mnemonics: verbs, nouns and infinitives are all nominal components!

Do you prefer tea or coffee?

I became a teacher because I prefer books and people to politics.

I became a teacher because I prefer books and people to politics.

I'd rather think of peace than war.

I prefer to consider peace to war.

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