What Does "prefer to" Mean?
- Meaning: The collocation "prefer to" is used to express a liking for one thing or action over another. It indicates a choice or a predisposition toward a specific option.
- Compositionality: The meaning is largely compositional; "prefer" acts as the head verb denoting choice, while "to" serves as the marker for the following infinitive verb or the preposition indicating the object of comparison.
- Register: This expression is neutral to formal. It is equally appropriate in casual conversation, professional journalism, and academic research.
How to Use It
- Grammatical pattern: The most common pattern is verb + to-infinitive (e.g., "I prefer to go"). It can also function as verb + noun + to + noun (e.g., "I prefer apples to oranges").
- Complements: When followed by a verb, it must be the infinitive form. When used for comparison between two nouns, the preposition "to" is mandatory.
- Separability: As a verb-preposition combination or a verb-infinitive marker, the components are generally not separated by other words, though adverbs can occasionally precede the verb (e.g., "I strongly prefer to...").
- What sounds unnatural: Using "than" after "prefer" when comparing nouns (e.g., "I prefer tea than coffee" is incorrect). Similarly, following "prefer to" with a gerund (e.g., "I prefer to swimming") is ungrammatical; use "I prefer swimming" or "I prefer to swim."
Real-World Examples
These examples are sourced from prefer to on Ludwig.guru.
"I prefer to wait." — independent.co.uk
"I prefer to work alone." — newyorker.com
"People prefer to stay as they are." — economist.com
"How do you prefer to learn?" — nytimes.com
"Others, however, prefer to cut the ties." — nytimes.com
Similar Phrases and Alternatives
| Phrase |
Context |
| would rather |
Used with a bare infinitive (no "to") to express a specific preference in a moment. |
| favor |
More formal; often used in political or technical contexts to show support for an idea. |
| opt to |
Suggests a deliberate decision or choice among available alternatives. |
| lean toward |
Indicates a tentative or developing preference rather than a firm decision. |
| choose to |
Emphasizes the act of making a selection rather than just the feeling of liking. |
Common Mistakes
- The "Than" Trap: Learners often mistakenly use 'than' instead of 'to' when comparing two nouns (e.g., 'I prefer coffee than tea' instead of 'I prefer coffee to tea').
- Incorrect Verb Form: Using the -ing form immediately after the particle "to" (e.g., "I prefer to driving"). The correct form is the infinitive ("I prefer to drive") or the gerund without the particle ("I prefer driving").
- Double Comparison: Using "more prefer" is redundant because "prefer" already contains the comparative meaning of liking something more.
Quick-Reference Summary
| Expression |
Meaning |
Grammatical Pattern |
Register |
| prefer to |
To like one thing or action better than another |
Verb + to-infinitive / Verb + Noun + to + Noun |
Neutral / Formal |
FAQs
Can the words in the expression prefer to be separated by other words?
In the to-infinitive pattern, the words usually stay together, though an adverb can be placed before the verb. When comparing two things, the noun or pronoun must sit between the verb and the preposition, such as in "I prefer tea to coffee."
How does prefer to differ from would rather?
The phrase prefer to is followed by a full infinitive, whereas would rather is followed by a bare infinitive without "to." Additionally, prefer to often describes general habits, while would rather typically refers to a specific choice in the present or future.
Should I use than or to when comparing two items with prefer?
You must use the preposition to when making a direct comparison between two nouns or gerunds. Learners often mistakenly use than instead of to when comparing two nouns, but "I prefer coffee to tea" is the only grammatically correct form.