CÁCH SỬ DỤNG WOULD RATHER VÀ WOULD PREFER

Would rather and would prefer: có nghĩa là thích ….. hơn (……)

I. Khi ta dùng “would rather” thì động từ theo sau phải là động từ nguyên mẫu không “to” (bare infinitive):

1. Affirmative:
S + would rather + V(bare inf) + O.
Ex:
I would rather study English.
I’d rather go to church than play football.

2. Negative:
S + would rather + not + V(bare inf) + O.
Ex:
He would rather not study English.
She’d rather not play video games than dance.

3. Interrogative:
Would + S + rather + V(bare inf) + O?
Ex:
Would you rather study German or Chinese?
Would you take auto repair or carpentry?

II.
Khi ta dùng “would prefer” ta chia ra hai tình huống. Tình huống thứ
nhất nếu trong câu chỉ có một sự kiện hoặc một hành động thì động từ
chính theo sau “would prefer” phải là động từ nguyên mẫu có “to”. Tình
huống thứ hai nếu trong câu có hai sự kiện hoặc hai hành động thì động
từ chính theo sau “would prefer” phải là V-ing (gerund).
1. Affirmative:
S + would prefer + to + V(bare inf) + O.
Ex:
I would prefer to study English.
He’d prefer to play internet game.

S + would prefer + V-ing + O + to + V-ing + O.
Ex:
She would prefer learning English to watching TV.
I’d prefer playing football to (playing) volleyball.

2. Negative:
S + would prefer + not + to + V(bare inf) + O.
Ex:
I would prefer not to go out without aim.
He’d prefer not to spend a lot of money.

S + would prefer + not + V-ing + O + to + V-ing + O.
Ex:
She would prefer not cooking dinner to watching TV.
I’d prefer not reading story book to (reading) English newspaper.

3. Interrogative:
Would (Do/Does) + S + prefer + to + V(bare inf) + O + or + O?
Ex:
Would you prefer to take a video or a photography class?
Do you prefer to study in the day or at night?

Would (Do/ Does) + S + prefer + V-ing + O + to + V-ing + O?
Ex:
Would you prefer playing chess to watching TV?


Exercise:
Complete these conversations with appropriate forms of the verbs in parentheses. Then practice with a partner.
A: Would you rather ………..a course in literature or science? (take)
B: I’d prefer …………for a science course because it’s more useful for me. (register)

A: Would you rather ………….English in Australia or Canada? (learn)
B: I think I’d prefer …………..in Australia because it’s warmer there. (study)

A: If you needed to learn a new job skill, would you prefer ……….a class or ……….a private tutor? (attend / have)
B: I’d rather ………..for a class than ………..a tutor. Private tutors are too expensive! (sign up / hire)

A: Would you rather ………..a choir or an orchestra? (join)
B: I’d prefer ………..in a choir to …………in an orchestra. (sing / play)

A: Would prefer ………….a craft or ………..a new sport? (learn / attempt)
B: To tell you the truth, I’d rather not ……..either. I’d prefer ………TV. (do / watch)