When learning English grammar, navigating the structures of verbs followed by infinitives (To V) and gerunds (V-ing) often creates confusion. The specific question of whether to use prefer to v or ving is a frequent consideration in both standardized tests and daily communication. While both combinations are grammatically correct, they carry slightly different nuances and are applied differently depending on the context.
This guide breaks down the precise differences between the two structures, clarifies the rules for would prefer to v or ving, and provides practice exercises to help you master these grammar points naturally.
What does prefer mean? An overview
The verb “prefer” (/prɪˈfɜːr/) means to like one thing or person better than another. Native English speakers use this word to express a priority, an inclination, or a choice among available options.
Because the verb inherently implies a comparison, the structures accompanying it require specific prepositions or conjunctions to clarify the subjects or actions being compared. Understanding this underlying logic makes it much easier to decide whether to choose prefer to v or ving in any given sentence.
The core rule: Prefer to V or Ving?
Reference materials such as the Cambridge and Oxford dictionaries confirm that “prefer” can be followed by both gerunds (V-ing) and infinitives (to V). The distinction relies on the speaker’s intent and whether they are describing a broad habit or a situational choice.
The Prefer + V-ing Structure (General Preferences)
When you want to express a general, long-term preference or a habitual like, using a gerund (V-ing) is an appropriate choice.
Basic Formula (Single Object/Action):
S + prefer + V-ing / Noun
Examples:
- She prefers reading. (Expressing a general hobby).
- My brother prefers action movies. (Expressing a general taste).
Extended Formula (Comparing Two Actions):
S + prefer + V-ing/ Noun + TO + V-ing/ Noun
This structure emphasizes liking one activity more than another. The critical detail here is the preposition used to connect the two gerunds or nouns is “to”, not “than”.
Examples:
- I prefer walking to cycling.
- They prefer drinking tea to drinking coffee.
The Prefer + to V Structure (Specific Choices)
In contrast to the gerund form, when you use “prefer + to V,” the structure often points toward a specific choice in a defined situation, or a conscious, deliberate habit.
Basic Formula:
S + prefer + to V
Examples:
- I prefer to drive early in the morning. (Highlighting a specific routine).
Extended Formula (Comparing Two Actions):
S + prefer + to V + RATHER THAN + V-inf (Bare Infinitive)
When comparing two actions using the infinitive form, the connecting phrase must be “rather than”. The verb immediately following “rather than” remains in its base form without the word “to”.
Examples:
- I prefer to read a book rather than watch TV.
- He prefers to stay at home rather than go out in this bad weather.
Summary comparison table about prefer to v or ving
| Feature | Prefer + V-ing | Prefer + to V |
| Meaning Nuance | Highlights general, long-term preferences. | Highlights specific choices or deliberate habits. |
| Comparison Structure | Prefer V-ing TO V-ing | Prefer to V RATHER THAN V-inf |
| Example | I prefer studying to working. | I prefer to study rather than work. |
Clarifying: Would prefer to V or Ving?
Another closely related phrasing that causes hesitation is would prefer to v or ving.
Unlike the standard “prefer,” which allows for flexibility, the grammatical rule for “would prefer” (frequently contracted to ‘d prefer) is quite strict. The verb immediately following “would prefer” takes the To V form (infinitive). It does not take the V-ing form. This structure expresses a desire, intention, or priority in a specific, immediate situation rather than a general fact.
Formula 1: Desiring to do something
S + would prefer + to V
Example:
- I would prefer to eat out tonight.
Formula 2: Preferring one specific action over another
S + would prefer + to V + RATHER THAN + V-inf
Example:
- She would prefer to take a taxi rather than wait for the bus.
Formula 3: Wanting someone else to do something
S1 + would prefer + O + to V S1 + would prefer + it if + S2 + V (Past Simple)
Examples:
- They would prefer me to arrive early.
- I would prefer it if you didn’t talk so loudly.
Whenever you face the dilemma of would prefer to v or ving, the accurate choice is always the infinitive (to V). Memorizing this consistency can help reduce errors in written and spoken English.
Read more:
Quick comparison: prefer, Would prefer, and Would rather
To broaden your grammatical understanding, it is helpful to look at “prefer,” “would prefer,” alongside “would rather”—another common expression of preference.
- Prefer: Often used for general likes. Accompanied by V-ing (connected with “to”) or To V (connected with “rather than”).
- Would prefer: Used for specific situations. Accompanied by To V (connected with “rather than”).
- Would rather: Used for specific situations. Followed directly by a bare infinitive (V-inf) and uses “than” for comparisons.
- Example: I would rather stay at home than go out.
Common mistakes to avoid
Even with a strong grasp of the rules, learners sometimes make structural slips during active communication. Here are a few notable errors to watch out for:
Incorrect Prepositions with V-ing: A frequent mistake is using “than” instead of “to” when comparing two gerunds.
- Incorrect: I prefer swimming than running.
- Correct: I prefer swimming to running.
Using Gerunds after Would Prefer: Due to confusion between the two verbs, some might add an -ing ending where it does not belong.
- Incorrect: I would prefer going out.
- Correct: I would prefer to go out.
Inconsistent Verb Forms: When using “prefer to V rather than…”, the verb following “rather than” needs to be in the base form, without “to” or “-ing”.
- Incorrect: He prefers to walk rather than driving.
- Correct: He prefers to walk rather than drive.
Practice exercises prefer to v or ving
To solidify your understanding of prefer to v or ving and its related structures, try completing the following exercises.
Instruction: Choose the correct verb form or preposition to complete each sentence.
- I prefer (drink) __________ coffee to tea.
- She prefers to walk rather than (take) __________ a taxi.
- We would prefer (stay) __________ in a hotel near the beach.
- My father prefers listening to music (to/than) __________ watching films.
- I would prefer to cook at home rather than (eat) __________ at a restaurant.
- Does he prefer (read) __________ books or playing video games?
- They would prefer it if you (not/come) __________ late.
Reference Answers:
- drinking (Because the preposition “to” is used later to connect with the noun “tea”, a gerund is required to maintain parallel structure. However, if there were no comparison clause, “to drink” would also be acceptable).
- take (Follows the “prefer to V rather than V-inf” rule).
- to stay (The rule for “would prefer” dictates the use of the infinitive).
- to (Connecting two gerunds).
- eat (Bare infinitive following “rather than”).
- reading (Matches the parallel V-ing structure of “playing” later in the sentence).
- didn’t come (Follows the structure: would prefer it if + Past Simple clause).
Understanding the nuances between general habits and situational choices is the key to mastering these structures. By regularly applying these rules to sentence-building exercises, distinguishing between prefer to v or ving and would prefer to v or ving will gradually become a natural part of your English proficiency. Keep practicing these comparisons to build confidence in your daily communication.
Frequently asked questions
1. In real-life conversation, is one structure more common?
Both structures appear frequently in native speech. The choice simply depends on whether the speaker is describing a broad hobby (often V-ing) or a specific preference for a given moment (to V).
2. What if there is only one verb after Prefer?
If there is no comparison being made, saying “I prefer reading” and “I prefer to read” convey essentially the same meaning. You can use them interchangeably to mean “I like reading.”
3. Which prepositions pair with prefer?
The verb pairs with “to” when comparing two nouns or two gerunds (Prefer A to B). When used with infinitives (to V), the connecting phrase for comparison is “rather than”.
Key words:
- Considered to v hay ving
- Prefer to do sth
- Prefer something to
- Prefer to verb meaning
- Prefer to v rather than
- Suggest to v or ving
- Prefer sth than
- Prefer grammar
