When you want to tell someone what you want to do, what you hate doing, or what you think about a certain topic, English requires very specific verb patterns and prepositions. Mixing up infinitives and gerunds in these phrases is one of the most frequent mistakes intermediate learners make.

Prefer vs. Would Rather

When comparing two choices, we use prefer or would rather. They express the exact same idea, but their grammar rules are entirely different.

Prefer is most commonly followed by a gerund (-ing), and we use the preposition to to introduce the second option. ✅ I prefer watching movies to climbing mountains. ❌ I prefer watching movies than climbing mountains.

Would rather is followed by a bare infinitive (the verb without "to"), and we use the word than for the comparison. ✅ I would rather stay at home than go out. ❌ I would rather to stay at home than going out.

Note: You can also say "would prefer," but this changes the rule again! "Would prefer" takes a full infinitive (to + verb). For example: I would prefer to stay home.

Expressing Strong Likes and Dislikes

When you talk about things you love or hate doing, the main verb is almost always followed by a gerund (-ing form). This applies to common verbs and phrases like enjoy, don't mind, can't stand, and loathe.

✅ I absolutely can't stand waking up early. ❌ I absolutely can't stand to wake up early.

If you are using adjectives to describe your tastes, pay close attention to the prepositions that follow them. You are keen on something, or a fan of something. Because these are prepositions, they must also be followed by a noun or a gerund.

✅ I am not very keen on cleaning the apartment today. ❌ I am not very keen in cleaning the apartment today.

Giving Your Opinion Naturally

When you want to share your thoughts, English has several fixed phrases. You can say in my opinion, to my mind, to be honest, or it seems to me.

The biggest trap for learners is trying to translate their native language's equivalent of "according to me." In English, we use according to for external sources of information (like a news article, a study, or another person). We never use it for ourselves.

✅ In my opinion, putting pineapple on pizza is a crime. ❌ According to me, putting pineapple on pizza is a crime.

Similarly, pay attention to how you structure opinion verbs. You can say "I personally find it strange," or "I am absolutely convinced that..." Memorizing these exact chunks—rather than translating word-by-word—is the secret to sounding confident and natural when negotiating plans or debating with friends!