Употребление would rather и prefer

Вы можете использовать ‘prefer to (do)’ или ‘prefer -ing’, говоря о предпочтениях в целом:

• I don’t like cities. I prefer to live in the country.
  или I prefer living in the country. Я предпочитаю жить в сельской местности.

Изучите разницу в употреблении prefer. Мы говорим:

• I prefer this coat to the coat you were wearing yesterday.
  Я предпочитаю эту куртку, чем ту (досл.: той), что ты носил вчера.
• I prefer driving to travelling by train.
  Я предпочитаю ездить на автомобиле, чем путешествовать на поезде.
• I prefer to drive rather than travel by train.
• Sarah prefers to live in the country rather than (live) in a city.
  Сара предпочитает жить в деревне, а не в городе. (досл.: вместо того, чтобы жить в городе)

Мы используем would prefer, говоря о предпочтениях в конкретной ситуации (не в целом):

• ‘Would you prefer tea or coffee?’ ‘Coffee, please.’
  ‘Вы предпочитаете чай или кофе?’ ‘Кофе, пожалуйста.’

Мы говорим ‘would prefer to do something’ (не doing):

• ‘Shall we go by train?’ ‘I’d prefer to drive.’ (not I’d prefer driving)
  ‘Поедем на поезде?’ ‘Я бы предпочел на машине.’
• I’d prefer to stay at home tonight rather than go to the cinema.
  Я предпочитаю остаться дома, чем идти в кино.

Would rather (do) = would prefer (to do). Мы используем would rather + инфинитив (без to). Сравните:

• ‘Shall we go by train?’ ‘I’d prefer to drive.’
  ‘Shall we go by train?’ ‘I’d rather drive.’ (not to drive)
• ‘Would you rather have tea or coffee?’ ‘Coffee, please.’

Отрицанием будет ‘I’d rather not (do something)’:

• I’m tired. I’d rather not go out this evening, if you don’t mind.
• ‘Do you want to go out this evening?’ ‘I’d rather not.’ (я бы не хотел)

Мы говорим ‘would rather do something than do something else’ (сравните с предложением над желтой рамочкой):

• I’d rather stay at home tonight than go to the cinema.

Мы говорим ‘I’d rather you did something’ (не I’d rather you do) - ‘я бы предпочел, чтобы ты сделал что-то’. Например:

• ‘Shall I stay here?’ ‘I’d rather you came with us.’ (я бы предпочел, чтобы ты пошел с нами)
• ‘I’ll repair your bike tomorrow, OK?’ ‘I’d rather you did it today.’
• ‘Are you going to tell them what happened?’ ‘No. I’d rather they didn’t know.’
• Shall I tell them, or would you rather they didn’t know?

В этой конструкции мы используем прошедшую форму (came, did и др.), но значение в настоящем времени, а не в прошедшем. Сравните:

• I’d rather make dinner now.
  Я бы предпочел приготовить обед сейчас.
  I’d rather you made dinner now. (not I’d rather you make)
  Я бы предпочел, чтобы ты приготовил обед сейчас.

I’d rather you didn’t (do something) = Я бы предпочел, чтобы ты не делал это:

• I’d rather you didn’t tell anyone what I said.
• ‘Shall I tell Linda what happened?’ ‘I’d rather you didn’t.’

Упражнения

1. Что вы предпочтёте? Напишите предложения, используя ‘I prefer (something) to (something else)’. Поставьте глагол в правильную форму, если необходимо.

1. (drive / travel by train)
   
2. (basketball / football)
   
3. (phone people / send emails)
   
4. (go to the cinema / watch videos at home)
   

Теперь перепишите предложения 3 и 4, используя конструкцию ‘I prefer to (do something)’.

2. Напишите предложения, используя I’d prefer... и I’d rather ... + следующее:

1. — Shall we walk home? (prefer)
   
2. — Do you want to eat now? (rather)
   
3. — Would you like to watch TV? (rather)
   
4. — Do you want to go to a restaurant? (prefer)
   
5. — Let’s leave now. (rather)
   
6. — Shall we play tennis? (rather)
   
7. — I think we should decide now. (prefer)
   
8. — Would you like to sit down? (rather)
   
9. — Do you want me to come with you? (prefer)
   

Теперь используйте эти же идеи, чтобы закончите предложения ниже, используя than и rather than.
10. I’d prefer to get a taxi ...
    
11. I’d prefer to go for a swim ...
    
12. I’d rather eat at home ...
    
13. I’d prefer to think about it for a while ...
    
14. I’d rather listen to some music ...
    

3. Закончите предложения, используя would you rather I ... .

1. Are you going to make dinner or ...
   
2. Are you going to tell Liz what happened or ...
   
3. Are you going to do the shopping or ...
   
4. Are you going to phone Diane or ...
   

4. Используйте свои собственные идеи, чтобы закончить эти предложения.

1. ‘Shall I tell Ann the news?’ ‘No, I’d rather she know.’
2. Do you want me to go now or would you rather I here?
3. Do you want to go out this evening or would you rather at home?
4. This is a private letter addressed to me. I’d rather you read it.
5. I don’t really like these shoes. I’d rather they a different colour.
6. A: Do you mind if I turn on the radio?
   B: I’d rather you . I’m trying to study.