prefer
/prɪˈfɜː(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /prɪˈfɜːr/ (ame, ipa) · /pri-ˈfər/ (ame, mw)
prefer — verb
- preferpresent simple I / you / we / they
- prefershe / she / it
- preferredpast simple
- preferring-ing form
1. to want or choose one person, thing, or plan more than another.
to want or choose one person, thing, or plan more than another.
On hot days, Lina prefers tea to sweet milk drinks.
pattern: prefer A to B
Most children in our class prefer reading outside after lunch.
prefer + -ing form
At the hotel, many guests prefer to eat in their rooms.
My grandparents prefer the small market near the station.
When the bus is late, I prefer a short walk home.
- like better
more conversational and more personal in tone
- would rather
used especially before another verb for a particular situation
- favor
more formal and often used for policies, groups, or general tendencies
文法句型
prefer A to B
prefer doing something to doing something
prefer to do something
用法筆記
The comparison pattern is usually 'prefer A to B', not 'prefer A than B'. Both 'prefer doing' and 'prefer to do' are common. Distinguish from sense 2, which is a formal legal use.
常見錯誤
2. to state in a formal legal way that someone has committed a crime.
to state in a formal legal way that someone has committed a crime.
Police decided to prefer charges against the truck driver after the crash.
legal pattern: decide to prefer charges against + person
New court papers show prosecutors preferred fraud charges in March.
No charges were preferred after the fight outside the bar.
State lawyers preferred charges once the bank records arrived.
文法句型
prefer charges against + person
prefer a charge
charges are preferred against + person
用法筆記
Usually used with legal nouns such as 'charges' or 'charge', often by police, prosecutors, or state lawyers. In everyday English, people normally say 'accuse' or 'charge' instead.