Expressing Preference in English

To express our preference, we can apply some phrases. Such as prefer, prefer ...over, like better, would rather and would prefer. Look at the below table to see it in detail.

Expressing Preferences

Expressing Preference using Prefer ...to

For example:

a) Do you prefer apple or orange?

b) I prefer apple to orange.

c) I prefer drinking milk to eating before bed.

d) I prefer running to swimming

e) I prefer apple.

f) I prefer English.

Explanation

To express choice, we can use prefer ...to.

We can put a noun after "prefer" as example (b). I prefer apple to orange.

Use present participle (Verb-ing) after "prefer" as example (c & d). 

If choice is offered, we just choose that we like most. As example (d & e) I prefer English, I prefer apple.

Expressing preference using prefer ... over

For example:

a) I prefer apple over orange.

b) I prefer studying English over math.

Prefer ...over is an alternative way to express your preference.

Expressing preference using Like better ... than 

For example:

a) Do you like studying English or Math better?

b) I like English better than Math.

c) I like studying English better.

d) I like English better.

Explanation

Like better than also can be used to give a choice we like most. This expression is often used by American.

The phrase "Better than" is used to give a comparison about things we like most.

We put a gerund (present participle/verb ing) after the word "like". As example (c).

The word "better" can be written at the end of the sentence. As example (a, c & d).

Expressing preference using Would rather ....than

For example:

a) Would you rather study English or Math?

b) I would rather study English than math.

c) I would rather study English.

d) I'd rather study English.

Explanation

Would rather ...than can be used to express preferences. 

The word "than" used to response about the thing we like most. As example (b).

If a verb comes after the phrase "would rather", the verb should be base form. As example (c). I would rather study English.

We can shorten (I'd) instead of would rather.

Expressing preference using Would prefer.

For example:

a) Would you prefer to study English or Math?

b) I would prefer to study English.

c) I would prefer English.

Explanation

Would prefer is followed by to infinitive. As example (c) & (d) (to study).

Would prefer can be followed by Noun. As example (c). I would prefer English. 

Jika ingin membaca dalam Bahasa Indonesia, silakan perhatikan penjelasan pada table di bawah.

Expressing Preference	Example	Explanation
Prefer ...to	(a)Do you prefer apple or orange?  (b) I prefer apple to orange  (c) I prefer drinking milk to eating before bed.  (d) I prefer running to swimming.  (e) I prefer apple.  (f) I prefer English	- Untuk memberikan pilihan, kita bisa menggunakan prefer …to - setelah prefer bisa ketemu kata benda (noun) seperti contoh; b - setelah prefer maka harus kata kerja bentuk -ing (present participle) seperti contoh; c dan d. - Jika ditawarkan pilihan, kita cukup menjawab dengan memilih salah satu yang disukai. Seperti contoh d dan e.
Prefer ... over	(a) I prefer apple over orange.  (b) I prefer studying English over math.	- Selain prefer …to, juga bisa menggunakan prefer …over.
Like better..than...	(a) Do you like studying English or Math better?  (b) I like English better than Math.  (c) I like studying English better.  (d) I like English better.	Like better than juga dapat digunakan untuk memberikan pilihan yang lebih disukai. Ekspresi ini sering digunakan oleh orang Amerika. - Frase better than digunakan untuk memberikan perbandingan tentang mana yang lebih disukai. - Jika ada kata kerja setelah kata like, maka kata kerja tersebut harus dalam bentuk (verb-ing) present participle. Contoh c. - Kata better juga bisa ditulis di akhir kalimat. seperti contoh a, c dan d.
Would rather...than..	(a) Would you rather study English or Math?  (b) I would rather study English than math.  (c) I would rather study English.  (d) I’d rather study English.	- Kata than dapat digunakan saat memberikan respon tentang hal yang lebih disukai. Contoh b. - Jika setelah frase would rather ketemu kata kerja, maka kata kerja tersebut harus dalam bentuk pertama (base verb form/ verb-1). Contoh c. - I Would rather dapat disingkat I’d. contoh d.
Would ...prefer	(a) Would you prefer to study English or Math?  (b) I would prefer to study English.  (c) I would prefer English.	- Would prefer diikuti oleh (to infinitive) contoh a dan b. (to study). - Would prefer bisa juga diikuti oleh kata benda (noun). Contoh c.