Gerund or infinitive

• English
• Secundair onderwijs

Expressing preferences

•    We use prefer when we talk about general likes and dislikes.
•    We use would prefer and would rather when we talk about specific choices in particular situations.
1.    Prefer + “-ing” or noun
2.    Would prefer + to inf or noun
3.    Would rather + “bare inf”

Structures to state preference

•    "I prefer living on my own.“
•   “I prefer chocolate ice-cream”
•   “I would prefer to go to the cinema.”
  
•   “I would prefer a beach holiday”
•   “I’d rather go home now”
  

If the verb after prefer is in the negative, use the infinitive with to.

She would prefer not to drive at night.

Different prepositions to state the choice.

1)    Prefer + “ing” +to + “ing” ( general preference)
“I'd prefer living in a city to living in the country.”

2)    would prefer + “to inf”+rather than + “bare inf” ( specific reference)
"It's such nice weather – I'd prefer to sit in the garden rather than watch TV."

3)    Would rather + “bare inf”+than+ “bare inf”( specific reference)

“I would (I'd) rather talk to him in person than call him on the phone.

Would Rather Someone Do

 Would rather is also used to express what one person prefers another person would do. The structure is similar to the unreal conditional because it expresses an imaginary wish. However, the form is also used to ask a polite question.

S + would rather + Person + past verb

Tom would rather Mary bought an SUV.
Would you rather she stayed here with us?

Jennifer'd rather _____ home for dinner tonight.

1. to stay
2. staying
3. stay
4. stayed

I think I'd prefer _______ chess today.

1. to play
2. playing
3. play
4. played

Would you rather I _____ you alone?

1. to leave
2. leaving
3. leave
4. left

I'd rather you ________ taking your medication for a few days. Let's say until next Monday.

1. to continue
2. continuing
3. continue
4. continued

I'd rather the students _____ for their test.

1. to study
2. studying
3. study
4. studied

Peter prefers _____ at home on the weekend.

1. to relax
2. relaxing
3. relax
4. relaxed

Would you rather I _________ at your place next weekend?

1. to stay
2. staying
3. stay
4. stayed

We'd rather you ________ too late tonight.

1. not to come
2. not coming
3. don't come
4. didn't come

I would prefer ______ in December rather than in May.

1. to go
2. going
3. go
4. went

I prefer starting early rather than ________ everything to the last minute.

1. to leave
2. leaving
3. leave
4. left

I would rather you ______ home now.

1. to go
2. going
3. go
4. went

Does Jessica prefer chocolate or vanilla cake? (full sentence)

What does she prefer to drink? (full sentence)

Write the correct form of the word in brackets for the sentences in the next slides.

_ _ _ (to have) a sweet tooth is healthier than _ _ _ (to smoke) cigarettes.

I am crazy about_ _ _ (to travel) to new places.

I like _ _ _ (to listen) to rock music more than pop music.

Sam is better at _ _ _ (to cook) than she is _ _ _ at
(to bake).

_ _ _ (to eat) junk food is better for you than _ _ _
(to drink) soda.

I enjoy ...

How difficult was this lesson?

0100