Would Rather vs. Prefer: Expressing Preferences: correct answers
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"I'd rather stay home tonight" or "I prefer staying home"? Both express a preference, but each follows different grammar rules — and mixing them up is one of the most common mistakes at the A2 level. For example, would rather takes a bare infinitive (I'd rather walk), while prefer pairs with a gerund or "to + infinitive" (I prefer walking / I prefer to walk).
This challenge digs into the key structures you need to master: forming would rather + base verb for present preferences, using the negative form (I'd rather not…), and choosing correctly between prefer + gerund + to and prefer + infinitive + rather than. You'll also tackle the trickier pattern of would rather + someone else + past tense — as in I'd rather you drove more slowly — where the past simple doesn't refer to the past at all, but to a present wish about another person's behaviour.
Across 13 questions in single-choice, multi-choice, drop-down, and drag-and-drop formats, you'll work through real-life scenarios like declining a friend's invitation, making weekend plans with a roommate, requesting changes from a messy flatmate, and planning a trip with a friend.
Try the quiz to check your knowledge!
Correct answers
Question 1
Choose the correct words to complete these conversations. Each speaker is saying what they'd prefer someone else to do — can you pick the right verb form? 🗣️
A: Can I open the window? B: I'd rather you didn't — it's freezing outside!
A: Should Tom drive tonight? B: I'd rather he took a taxi. He looks tired.
A: I want to tell Sara the surprise. B: I'd rather you kept it a secret for now! 🤫
I'd rather you didn't — it's freezing outside!
When we want someone else to (not) do something, we use "would rather + subject + past simple." Here, "didn't" is the past simple of "do" used for a polite refusal. "Don't" (present) and "won't" (future) don't fit this pattern.
I'd rather he took a taxi.
After "would rather + another person," we use the past simple form even though we're talking about the present or future. This is similar to unreal/hypothetical meaning. "Takes" (present simple) and "take" (base form) are incorrect here.
I'd rather you kept it a secret for now!
Same pattern: "would rather + you + past simple." The past tense "kept" doesn't refer to past time — it expresses a current preference about someone else's action. "Keep" (base form) and "keeping" (-ing form) don't follow this structure.
Question 2
The correct answers are traveling, take, and left.
"Prefer" + "-ing" is used for general preferences: "prefer traveling." "Would rather" + bare infinitive expresses a specific preference: "would rather take." When "would rather" refers to another person's action, we use past simple: "would rather we left."
Question 3
You're sharing a taxi, and the driver is speeding. Complete what you'd say to express your wish about the driver's behavior.
I'd rather you ___ more slowly, please.
The correct answer is drove.
When we use "would rather" to express a preference about another person's actions, we follow it with a subject + past simple verb. "I'd rather you drove" uses the past tense to express a present wish — similar to how unreal conditionals work.
Question 4
The correct answers are reading, to go, and than.
"Enjoy" is always followed by the "-ing" form: "enjoys reading." With "would prefer," we use "to + infinitive": "would prefer to go." The structure "would prefer to … rather than …" links the two choices.
Question 5
The correct answers are would rather and prefer to.
"Would rather" + bare infinitive (stay) is correct. "Prefer to" + bare infinitive (stay) is also correct. "Would prefer" needs "to" before the verb ("would prefer to stay"), so it doesn't work here without "to." "Rather would" reverses the word order incorrectly, and "would rather to" adds an unnecessary "to."
Question 6
The correct answers are didn't and cooked.
When we use "would rather" to talk about what we want someone else to do, we use the past simple — even though we're talking about the present or future. "I'd rather you didn't leave…" and "Would you rather I cooked…?" both follow this pattern.
Question 7
A travel blogger is writing about her habits. Help her complete this diary entry by choosing the correct option.
I prefer ___ by train to ___ by plane.
The correct answer is travelling ... flying.
When using "prefer" to talk about general preferences, we use the pattern "prefer + verb-ing + to + verb-ing." The preposition "to" connects the two gerunds: "prefer travelling to flying." Note that both gerunds must match in form — you cannot mix a gerund with an infinitive or a bare verb in this pattern.
Question 8
The correct answers are I'd rather you didn't play videos here and I'd prefer it if you didn't play videos here.
When we use "would rather" to talk about what we want someone else to do, we use a past tense verb (didn't play), not the present tense (don't) or "wouldn't." This past tense expresses a present preference — it does not refer to the past! Similarly, "I'd prefer it if you didn't…" uses the same past tense structure to express a polite present wish.
Question 9
Help Marco describe his weekend plans by choosing the correct word for each gap. 🎉
On Saturdays, I prefer swimming to running. But this Saturday, I'd prefer to go to the cinema instead. My parents prefer cooking at home to eating out.
I prefer swimming to running.
With "prefer" for general habits, we use the -ing form: "prefer doing something to doing something else."
I'd prefer to go to the cinema.
With "would prefer" for a specific occasion, we use the to-infinitive: "I'd prefer to go…"
My parents prefer cooking at home to eating out.
For general preferences using the pattern "prefer … to …," we use -ing forms on both sides: "prefer cooking to eating out."
Question 10
The correct answers are I'd rather have pasta than rice, I prefer pasta to rice, and I'd rather not eat anything spicy tonight.
"Would rather" is followed by the bare infinitive (without "to"), so "I'd rather to have" and "I'd rather having" are both incorrect. "Prefer" takes a noun + "to" + noun. To make "would rather" negative, we add "not" before the verb: "I'd rather not eat."
Question 11
Marco hates horror movies. Help him politely decline his friend's invitation. Choose the grammatically correct sentence.
The correct answer is I'd rather not watch a horror movie.
To make "would rather" negative, place "not" directly before the base verb: "would rather not + verb." The negation does not attach to "would" or use "don't."
Question 12
The correct answers are She prefers walking to driving, She'd rather walk than drive, and She prefers to walk rather than drive.
With "prefer," we use the pattern "prefer A to B" (with gerunds) or "prefer to do A rather than do B." With "would rather," we always use "than" (not "to") to compare: "would rather A than B." Mixing up "to" and "than" between these structures is a very common mistake!
Question 13
Your friend suggests going to a noisy club tonight, but you're not feeling it. Choose the correct way to express your preference.
I'd rather ___ at home tonight.
The correct answer is stay.
After "would rather," we use the bare infinitive (the verb without "to"). So it's "I'd rather stay," not "I'd rather to stay" or "I'd rather staying."