EXPRESSING PREFERENCE

1.      Explanation

Expressing preference is used to express preference or option about something people like.

The sentence patterns, are :

a)    S + like + noun + better than + noun

Example : my father likes peanut better than chocolate

                             Or

S + like + Ving + better than + Ving

Example : I like selling cake better than making cake

b)   S + prefer + noun + to + noun

Example : Rudy prefers apple to grapes

Or

c)    S + prefer + Ving + to + Ving

Example : Rudy prefers swimming to playing football

d)   S + would rather + V1 + than + V1

Example : wenny would rather leave early than wait for him

e)    S + would prefer to + V1 + rather than + V1

Example : I would prefer to go shopping rather than stay at home

EXPLANATORY NOTES

PREFERENCE	RESPONSE
-  Would you prefer … to infinitive … (or infinitive)? -  Would you rather … infinitive… (or infinitive)? -  Would you like to … infinitive… (or infinitive)? -  Do you prefer …Gerund/Noun or Gerund/Noun…? -  What would you rather do: … Infinitive or Infinitive…? -  Do you like … Noun or Gerund … better/ more than … Noun or Gerund?	-  I’d prefer … to infinitive …. -  I prefer … Noun or Gerund … - I’d rather … Infinitive … (than Infinitive). - I like … Nounor Gerund … better than … Noun or Gerund …. -  I like both. -  I don’t like either of them. -  Neither. I prefer … to infinitive

2.      Example of conversation showing expressing preference

Waiter                         : What would you like to order, madam?

Woman            : I’d like to have a salad,please.

Waiter                         : Would you prefer vegetable salad or fruit salad?

Woman            : I prefer vegetable salad to fruit salad, please.

Waiter                         : Certainly. What would you like to drink? Ice tea perhaps?

Woman                 : I’d rather have lemon tea without ice at this time of the day.