Appearance
Unit 59 — prefer and would rather
A. prefer to ... and prefer -ing
当你表达**一般情况下的偏好（prefer in general）**时，可以使用：
prefer to do
或者：
prefer doing
例如：
I don’t like cities. I prefer to live in the country.
或者：
I prefer living in the country.
我不喜欢城市。我更喜欢住在乡下。
1. prefer 的基本结构
可以使用以下结构：
| 结构 | 搭配 |
|---|---|
| prefer something | to something else |
| prefer doing something | to doing something else |
| prefer doing something | rather than (doing) something else |
| prefer to do something | rather than (do) something else |
2. prefer A to B
比较两个名词 / 事物：
prefer A to B
例如：
I prefer this coat to the other one.
比起另一件外套，我更喜欢这件。
结构：
prefer + noun + to + noun
注意这里使用：
to
而不是：
❌ than
3. prefer doing A to doing B
比较两个动作时，可以使用：
prefer doing A to doing B
例如：
I prefer driving to travelling by train.
比起坐火车，我更喜欢开车。
结构：
prefer + doing + to + doing
这里的 to 是介词，所以后面使用：
-ing
不是：
❌ prefer driving to travel
而是：
✅ prefer driving to travelling
4. prefer doing A rather than doing B
也可以说：
prefer doing A rather than (doing) B
例如：
I prefer driving rather than travelling by train.
比起坐火车，我更喜欢开车。
5. prefer to do A rather than do B
如果前面使用：
prefer to do
后面可以使用：
rather than do
例如：
I prefer to drive rather than travel by train.
比起坐火车，我更喜欢开车。
结构：
prefer to + V1 + rather than + V1
注意：
prefer to drive rather than travel
第二个动词前通常不需要再加 to。
6. prefer doing 和 prefer to do
两种结构都可以表示：
一般性的偏好
例如：
I prefer driving.
我更喜欢开车。
也可以：
I prefer to drive.
我更喜欢开车。
7. rather than 的例子
Sarah prefers to live in the country rather than in a city.
Sarah 比起住在城市，更喜欢住在乡下。
这里比较的是：
in the country
和：
in a city
8. prefer 的核心公式
名词比较
prefer A to B
动名词比较
prefer doing A to doing B
动名词 + rather than
prefer doing A rather than (doing) B
不定式 + rather than
prefer to do A rather than do B
B. would prefer (I’d prefer ...)
would prefer 用来表达：
某个具体情况下想要什么 / 更喜欢什么
而不是一般性的偏好。
9. prefer vs would prefer
prefer
表示：
general preference
一般性的偏好。
例如：
I prefer coffee to tea.
一般来说，比起茶，我更喜欢咖啡。
would prefer
表示：
specific situation
某个具体场景下的偏好。
例如：
Would you prefer tea or coffee?
你现在想喝茶还是咖啡？
Coffee, please.
咖啡，谢谢。
10. would prefer to do
通常说：
would prefer to do something
而通常不说：
would prefer doing
例如：
Shall we go by train?
我们坐火车去好吗？
I’d prefer to drive.
我更想开车去。
这里：
I’d prefer = I would prefer
11. would prefer ... rather than ...
例如：
I’d prefer to stay at home tonight rather than go to the cinema.
今晚比起去电影院，我更想待在家里。
结构：
would prefer to do A rather than do B
例如：
I’d prefer to walk rather than take a taxi.
比起坐出租车，我更想走路。
12. prefer 与 would prefer 的时间/场景区别
| 表达 | 含义 | 使用场景 |
|---|---|---|
| prefer | 更喜欢 | 一般情况 |
| would prefer | 更想要 / 宁愿 | 当前或某个具体情况 |
例如：
I prefer driving to travelling by train.
我一般更喜欢开车，而不是坐火车。
但是：
I’d prefer to drive today.
我今天更想开车。
C. would rather (I’d rather ...)
I’d rather = I would rather
would rather 表示：
宁愿 / 更愿意
它和：
would prefer
意思非常接近。
13. would rather do
I’d rather do something
等于：
I’d prefer to do it.
所以：
would rather + 动词原形
注意：
不加 to
例如：
Shall we go by train?
我们坐火车去好吗？
可以回答：
I’d rather drive.
我宁愿开车。
不是：
❌ I’d rather to drive.
也可以说：
I’d prefer to drive.
所以：
I’d rather drive.
≈
I’d prefer to drive.
14. would rather 与 would prefer 的结构区别
| would rather | would prefer |
|---|---|
| would rather do | would prefer to do |
| I’d rather drive. | I’d prefer to drive. |
| I’d rather stay. | I’d prefer to stay. |
| I’d rather wait. | I’d prefer to wait. |
核心区别：
rather + V1
但是：
prefer + to + V1
15. Which would you rather do?
可以问：
Which would you rather do, go to the cinema or go shopping?
你更愿意做哪一个——去电影院还是去购物？
也可以：
Which would you prefer to do, go to the cinema or go shopping?
意思基本相同。
16. would rather 的否定
否定形式：
I’d rather not ...
结构：
would rather not + V1
例如：
I’m tired. I’d rather not go out this evening, if you don’t mind.
我累了。如果你不介意的话，我今晚不太想出去。
别人问：
Do you want to go out this evening?
你今晚想出去吗？
可以回答：
I’d rather not.
我还是不去了。
这里不需要重复：
go out
完整意思实际上是：
I’d rather not go out.
17. would rather A than B
我们说：
I’d rather do one thing than do another.
结构：
would rather + V1 + than + V1
例如：
I’d rather stay at home tonight than go to the cinema.
今晚比起去电影院，我宁愿待在家里。
18. would rather ... than ...
注意两边都是：
动词原形
例如：
I’d rather walk than drive.
我宁愿走路也不愿开车。
I’d rather cook than eat out.
我宁愿自己做饭也不愿出去吃。
I’d rather stay home than go out.
我宁愿待在家里也不愿出去。
19. would prefer 和 would rather 对比
would prefer
I’d prefer to stay at home tonight rather than go to the cinema.
would rather
I’d rather stay at home tonight than go to the cinema.
两句话意思基本相同：
我今晚宁愿待在家，也不想去电影院。
结构区别：
would prefer + to do + rather than + do
而：
would rather + do + than + do
D. I’d rather somebody did something
这是本单元非常重要的结构。
当 would rather 后面的动作不是自己做，而是希望别人做时，结构发生变化：
I’d rather + somebody + past simple
例如：
I’d rather you drove.
我更希望你来开车。
20. I’d rather you did ...
我们说：
I’d rather you did something.
而不是：
❌ I’d rather you do something.
例如：
Who’s going to drive, you or me?
谁来开车，你还是我？
I’d rather you drove.
我更希望你开车。
意思：
I would prefer this.
21. I’d rather he did ...
例如：
Jack says he’ll repair your bike tomorrow, OK?
Jack 说他明天会修你的自行车，可以吗？
I’d rather he did it today.
我更希望他今天修。
这里：
did
虽然形式是过去式，但并不是表示过去。
22. I’d rather you told ...
例如：
Are you going to tell Anna what happened, or would you rather I told her?
你准备告诉 Anna 发生了什么，还是你更希望我告诉她？
这里：
I told her
表示：
你希望“我”去告诉她。
23. 为什么使用过去式？
结构：
I’d rather + somebody + past simple
这里虽然使用：
drove did told made
但是：
the meaning is present, not past
也就是说：
形式是过去式，意思不是过去。
它表达的是：
我现在希望某人做某事。
这和英语里的“假设 / 非现实距离”有关。
24. make dinner 的对比
如果是：
我自己更愿意做饭：
使用：
I’d rather make dinner now.
结构：
I’d rather + V1
如果是：
我希望你做饭：
使用：
I’d rather you made dinner now.
结构：
I’d rather + somebody + past simple
不是：
❌ I’d rather you make dinner.
25. 两种 would rather 结构
这是非常重要的区别：
自己做
I’d rather + V1
例如：
I’d rather drive.
我宁愿自己开车。
希望别人做
I’d rather + somebody + past simple
例如：
I’d rather you drove.
我宁愿你开车。
对比：
| 谁做动作 | 结构 | 例句 |
|---|---|---|
| 自己 | would rather + V1 | I’d rather drive. |
| 别人 | would rather + somebody + past | I’d rather you drove. |
26. I’d rather you didn’t ...
如果希望别人不要做某事：
I’d rather + somebody + didn’t + V1
意思：
I’d prefer you not to do it.
例如：
I’d rather you didn’t tell anyone what I said.
我希望你不要把我说的话告诉任何人。
27. I’d rather you didn’t
例如：
Shall I tell Anna what happened?
我要告诉 Anna 发生了什么吗？
回答：
I’d rather you didn’t.
我希望你不要告诉她。
这里省略了：
tell Anna what happened
完整意思：
I’d rather you didn’t tell Anna what happened.
28. didn’t know 的例子
Are you going to tell Anna what happened?
你准备告诉 Anna 发生了什么吗？
No. I’d rather she didn’t know.
不。我宁愿她不知道。
注意：
didn’t know
虽然形式是过去式：
didn’t + V1
但是意思是：
我现在希望她不知道。
不是：
她过去不知道。
29. prefer / would prefer / would rather 总对比
| 表达 | 核心意思 | 典型场景 |
|---|---|---|
| prefer | 一般来说更喜欢 | general preference |
| would prefer | 这一次更想 | specific situation |
| would rather | 这一次宁愿 | specific situation |
例如：
一般偏好
I prefer driving to travelling by train.
我一般更喜欢开车。
今天的选择
I’d prefer to drive today.
我今天更想开车。
今天的选择
I’d rather drive today.
我今天宁愿开车。
30. 三个结构的动词形式
这是 Unit 59 最容易出错的地方：
| 结构 | 后面的动词 |
|---|---|
| prefer doing | doing |
| prefer to do | to do |
| would prefer to do | to do |
| would rather do | do |
| would rather somebody did | past simple |
例如：
I prefer driving.
I prefer to drive.
I’d prefer to drive.
I’d rather drive.
I’d rather you drove.
31. 比较结构总结
prefer
prefer A to B
例如：
I prefer coffee to tea.
prefer doing
prefer doing A to doing B
例如：
I prefer walking to driving.
prefer to do
prefer to do A rather than do B
例如：
I prefer to walk rather than drive.
would prefer
would prefer to do A rather than do B
例如：
I’d prefer to walk rather than drive.
would rather
would rather do A than do B
例如：
I’d rather walk than drive.
32. 一个动作理解整个 Unit 59
假设比较：
开车 vs 坐火车
一般偏好
I prefer driving to travelling by train.
我一般更喜欢开车。
一般偏好
I prefer to drive rather than travel by train.
我一般更喜欢开车。
今天具体的选择
I’d prefer to drive today.
我今天更想开车。
今天具体的选择
I’d rather drive today.
我今天宁愿开车。
希望别人开车
I’d rather you drove today.
我今天更希望你开车。
希望别人不要开车
I’d rather you didn’t drive today.
我今天更希望你不要开车。
33. prefer 与 rather 最关键的介词
非常容易混淆：
prefer 使用 to
I prefer coffee to tea.
不是：
❌ I prefer coffee than tea.
would rather 使用 than
I’d rather drink coffee than tea.
不是：
❌ I’d rather drink coffee to tea.
所以记住：
prefer → to
rather → than
34. would prefer 与 would rather 转换
这两个结构经常可以互换：
I’d prefer to stay home.
=
I’d rather stay home.
I’d prefer to drive rather than take the train.
=
I’d rather drive than take the train.
核心区别不是意思，而是：
后面的语法结构不同。
35. 最终思维模型
prefer
GENERAL PREFERENCE
↓
一般情况下的偏好
↓
prefer doing
OR
prefer to do
例如：
I prefer driving.
would prefer
SPECIFIC SITUATION
↓
当前选择
↓
would prefer
↓
to do
例如：
I’d prefer to drive.
would rather
SPECIFIC SITUATION
↓
宁愿
↓
would rather
↓
do
例如：
I’d rather drive.
would rather + somebody
I WANT
↓
SOMEBODY ELSE
↓
TO DO SOMETHING
↓
would rather
↓
somebody + PAST
例如：
I’d rather you drove.
36. Unit 59 核心公式
一般偏好
prefer + noun + to + noun
prefer doing A + to + doing B
prefer to do A + rather than + do B
具体偏好
would prefer + to do
例如：
I’d prefer to stay.
宁愿自己做
would rather + V1
例如：
I’d rather stay.
宁愿 A 而不是 B
would rather + V1 + than + V1
例如：
I’d rather stay than go.
希望别人做
would rather + somebody + past simple
例如：
I’d rather you stayed.
希望别人不要做
would rather + somebody + didn’t + V1
例如：
I’d rather you didn’t go.
37. 一句话记住 Unit 59
I prefer driving. = 一般来说，我更喜欢开车。
I’d prefer to drive. = 这一次，我更想开车。
I’d rather drive. = 这一次，我宁愿开车。
I’d rather you drove. = 我更希望你开车。
I’d rather you didn’t drive. = 我更希望你不要开车。
最核心的结构可以压缩成：
prefer → doing / to do
would prefer → to do
would rather → do
would rather somebody → did