Asking someone’s preferences

Speaking: Preferences

When talking about preferences, you may use the following words and phrases

(much) Prefer Apples Oranges

I (always) Watching To Listening

TV to
records

I’d (much) Prefer to Go to the Than (go) to

cinema the
Rather
theatre

Agreeing with a person’s preferences

Do you So do I

Me too

Yes, I prefer (apples) too

Would you? so would I

Yes, I’d Prefer to

Rather

Disagreeing with a person’s preferences

Do you? I don’t

Oh. I don’t. I much prefer going to the theatre

 Would you? I wouldn’t

Oh, I wouldn’t. I’d much rather/prefer to go to the theatre

Well, personally I like them both equally well

I don’t like either

Practice:

Work in pairs. A expresses his/her preferences, using the words below. B agrees or
disagrees accordingly. Try to use as many different phrases as possible, and change
the verb where necessary.

1. To work as programmer or to work as editor

2. To be a freelance programmer or to be a regular programmer
3. Read a book about programming language or programming software
4. Going to University or Going to Polytechnic

When a person prefers one particular thing to another

Do you French food To Chinese food?

prefer
Playing Or Watching it?
football

Would Prefer to Go to the Than Stay at

you cinema home?
Rather Or
Have tea Coffee?

And the answer

 I do I don’t

Yes I would No I wouldn’t

Well To be honest I really Don’t mind

Actually Wouldn’t
mind
To tell you the truth
I have no preference

I like both (equally well)

I don’t like either

I wouldn’t really like (to do)

either

How a person would prefer to spend his/her time

What Do (ing) at Stay (ing) Go (ing) out

weekend? at home somewhere?

Where Go (ing) for your Spain Somewhere

holidays? in Britain?
Do you prefer Or
When Get(ting) up in Early Late?
Would you the mornings?
prefer to
Who Watch(ing)? Leeds Manchester
Would you
United?
rather
Why Be(ing) single To Be(ing)
married?
Than
And the answer

I prefer Go (ing) out somewhere

I’d Prefer to Go (ing) to Spain

Rather Get (ting) up late

Watch (ing) Arsenal

Be (ing) single because you’ve got more friends

How to ask about types of preferences

Sort Books do you prefer Read(ing)? Science Detective

of fiction stories?
What
Kind Music Would Prefer Listen(ing) Classical Pop
of you to to? music music?
Or
Type Food Rather Eat(ing)? French Italian
of food food?

And the answer

I prefer Read(ing) science fiction

I’d Prefer to Listen(ing) to pop music

Rather Eat (ing) Italian food

Complete the following dialogue

1. A : I much prefer … to …
B : … (agree)
2. A : I’d prefer to … than …
B : … (disagree)
3. A : I’d rather … than …
B : … (says he/she doesn’t know)
4. A : do you prefer … to …?
B :…
A : … (agree)
5. A : would you rather … than … ?
B :…
A : … (disagree)