Expressing preference

We use prefer to say we like one thing or activity more than another. We can use a
prepositional phrase with to when we compare two things or actions:
I prefer tea to coffee.
We prefer going by ferry to flying.
We don’t use than after prefer:
She prefers books to magazines.
Not: She prefers books than magazines.
We can use a to-infinitive or an -ing form after prefer. A to-infinitive is more
common.
She’s not keen on coffee. She prefers to drink tea. (or She prefers drinking
tea to coffee.)

Would prefer

We use would prefer or ’d prefer, followed by a to-infinitive or a noun, to talk about

present and future preferences:
I’d prefer to go by myself.
Would you prefer a quieter restaurant?
She’d prefer not to drive at night.
When we want to say that we would like to do one thing more than another, we can
introduce the second thing with rather than, followed by an infinitive without to:
I’d prefer to go skiing this year rather than go on a beach holiday.
When we are talking about our preferences for the actions of another person, we can
use would prefer + object pronoun + to-infinitive or would prefer it if + past simple:
They’d prefer us to come later. (or They’d prefer it if we came later.)
Would you prefer me to drive? (or Would you prefer it if I drove?)
 Had better do something
We use had better to refer to the present or the future, to talk about actions we think
people should do or which are desirable in a specific situation. The verb form is
always had, not have. We normally shorten it to ’d better in informal situations. It is
followed by the infinitive without to:

It’s five o’clock. I’d better go now before the traffic gets too bad.

Not: I’d better to go now.

The democratic movement had better concentrate on the immediate issues of the

economy and security. (more formal)

Had better is a strong expression. We use it if we think there will be negative results
if someone does not do what is desired or suggested:

She’d better get here soon or she’ll miss the opening ceremony.