Which should you use, prefer, prefer … rather than, prefer … than, prefer … more than, or prefer …instead of? The verb prefer means to like or want someone or something more than someone or something else. Prefer generally takes the preposition to. Prefer … instead of, prefer … more than and prefer … than are incorrect.
| Incorrect: |
I prefer coffee rather than tea.
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| Correct: |
I prefer coffee to tea.
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| Incorrect: |
People prefer watching TV instead of reading.
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| Correct: |
People prefer watching TV to reading.
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| Incorrect: |
I prefer jogging than cycling.
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| Correct: |
I prefer jogging to cycling.
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| Incorrect: |
I prefer dancing more than singing.
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| Correct: |
I prefer dancing to singing.
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While prefer is followed by to in most cases, there is an exception. When prefer is followed by a to-infinitive, rather than is used.
| Correct: |
They prefer to leave rather than pay.
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| Correct: |
The city prosecutor preferred to step down rather than do his job.
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It is, however, better to change prefer plus to-infinitive to would rather plus infinitive.
| Correct: |
They would rather leave than pay.
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| Correct: |
The city prosecutor would rather step down than do his job.
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Alternatively, use a gerund after prefer and to.
| Correct: |
They prefer leaving to paying.
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| Correct: |
The city prosecutor preferred stepping down to doing his job.
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Do not use prefer … instead of, prefer … more than or prefer … than when a to-infinitive follows prefer.
| Incorrect: |
He preferred to stay instead of leaving immediately.
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| Correct: |
He preferred to stay rather than leave immediately.
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| Correct: |
He would rather stay than leave immediately.
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| Correct: |
He preferred staying to leaving immediately.
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| Incorrect: |
I prefer to read more than to listen.
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| Correct: |
I prefer to read rather than listen.
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| Correct: |
I would rather read than listen.
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| Correct: |
I prefer reading to listening.
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| Incorrect: |
I prefer to drink water than to drink soda.
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| Correct: |
I prefer to drink water rather than drink soda.
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| Correct: |
I would rather drink water than soda.
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| Correct: |
I prefer drinking water to drinking soda.
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