Would Rather vs. Prefer: Expressing Preferences

"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!