I would prefer to discuss the matter in private. I would like to discuss the matter in private. I am used to prefer used in sentences similar to "I prefer Verona to Rome." In the first sentence there isn't a comparison between two different situations. …

Just saw this: "prefer ~ing" / "prefer to infinitive" and I am wondering if there are any differences between "prefer doing" and "prefer to do". I have read a book about grammar that says there is a subtle difference between them, and I would like to confirm this concept. Am I right about the following? gerund: refers to a habit. e.g.:

Sep 4, 2016 · Both "prefer" & "would prefer" express the preference. This site said "You can use 'prefer to (do)' or 'prefer -ing' to say what you prefer in general" & "We use 'would prefer' to say what somebody wants in a particular situation (not in general)". However, this site said "We can use would prefer and prefer with the same meaning. However, the ...

Oct 30, 2023 · On the other hand, combining them for, “I would prefer to stay home…” is completely idiomatic in today’s English. A context in which “I would stay home…” is appropriate is an irrealis: “I would stay home because the weather is bad, but we’ll be entertaining an important new client, so I have to be at the office.”

I prefer coffee to chocolate. I prefer coffee rather than chocolate. These ones do not: I prefer English lessons rather than Spanish one. I prefer English lessons to Spanish one. I prefer English lessons to Spanish. I would prefer English lessons rather than Spanish. I would prefer to make a copy than to take this whole book home.

I prefer pork rather than beef - less common but grammatically correct. I prefer dancing to swimming. - usual day a day expression. I prefer dancing rather than swimming - less common but grammatically correct. I would prefer to stay home rather than go out tonight - "would prefer" MUST always be followed by the infinitive and not the "-ing" form.

Aug 6, 2023 · I prefer doing something to doing something else. I prefer to do something rather than (do) something else. Look at these examples: I prefer driving to travelling by train. I prefer to drive rather than travel by train. If we want to check your sentences, we can look at them like this: I prefer doing this on my own to doing this with you.

Jun 16, 2020 · With prefer it's optional whether or not to "downplay" the strength of the assertion using "auxiliary" would, but with rather you need it (often contracted to 'd in informal contexts) because it's actually the "main" verb (rarely used that way today except in established collocations like would rather, would sooner).

Jun 16, 2020 · Indeed "prefer to go" is more common than "prefer going". It depends on the verb as I have already mentioned in my answer. Between "start going" and "start to go", "started going" is more common. Well, but if it concerns only the verb "prefer", yes, you are correct "prefer to go" is more common than "prefer going". –

i prefer not to is grammatically correct, so is i prefer to not. The first is far more common. There is no difference whatsoever with the exception of: i prefer not to smoke. i prefer to not smoke... that implies you want to make an emphasis on something you prefer