Unit 64

Prefer and would rather

(a) Prefer to do и prefer doing

Чтобы сказать о предпочтении говорят

`prefer to do' или `prefer doing'.

Выражение `Prefer to do' более употребительно:

- I don't like cities. I prefer to live (или I prefer living) in the country.

Запомните различие конструкций:

I prefer (doing) something to (doing) something else

но: I prefer to do something rather than (do) something else

- I prefer that coat to the coat you were wearing yesterday.

- Tom prefers driving to travelling by train.

но: Tom prefers to drive rather than travel by train.

- I prefer to live in the country rather than (live) in a city.

(b) Would prefer (to do)

Чтобы выразить предпочтение в конкретной ситуации

(а не вообще) применяют `would prefer to do':

- `Would you prefer tea or coffee?' `Coffee, please.'

- `Shall we go by train?' `Well, I'd prefer to go by car.' (а не `going')

Отметьте конструкцию:

- I'd prefer to stay at home tonight rather than go to the cinema.

(c) Would rather (do) = would prefer to do.

Инфинитив после would rather используется

без to.

Сравните:

- `Would you rather have tea or coffee?' `Coffee, please.'

- I'm tired. I'd rather not go out this evening, if you don't mind.

- `Do you want to go out this evening?' `I'd rather not.'

Отметьте конструкцию:

- I'd rather stay at home than go to the cinema.

(d) Would rather someone did something

Когда хотят, чтобы кто-либо другой что-либо

сделал, говорят I'd rather did../

I'd rather he did...и т.д. В конструкции

иcпользуется прошедшее время, но значение

этой конструкции - настоящее или будущее время,

но не прошедшее.

Сравните:

- `Shall I stay here?' `Well, I'd rather you came with us.'

- I'd rather you didn't tell anyone what I said.

- `Do you mind if I smoke?' `I'd rather you didn't.'