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I have a question about the word "prefer" I'm not sure how to use the word "prefer". Could someone tell me how to use "prefer+ infinitive", "prefer + verb+ing", and "prefer+to"? I'm confused...

Corrections · 5

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I understood. Thank you very much!
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They are practically interchangeable.
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Thank you very much for teaching. I'm still not clear the difference between "prefer to" and "prefer verb+ing". Are these the same?
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We can only use verb after 'prefer' ( “Prefer to do something rather than (do) something) ı prefer to drink tea rather than coffee .On the other hand , With this structure we can use noun without verb “I Prefer eating vegatables to meat ( ''eating is a noun'')(Prefer something to something) and "I hardly know those people; I preferred to stay at home with my sister rather than going there and got bored." ( İn this sentence this person probably dont know this people , for a one time he prefers to stay at home ) (prefer to verb1) I (always) prefer driving rather than taking a plane. ( But this sentence give us some imformation about person's general habit )(First choice of person' travelling by car ) (prefer + verbing )
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Prefer can be used with several parts of speech. You can prefer a noun or noun phrase (usually plural). • I prefer apples. • I prefer plates. You can prefer a present tense verb. • I prefer running. • I prefer eating. You can prefer "to infinitive". • I prefer to run. • I prefer to eat. You can prefer a noun to another noun. • I prefer apples to oranges. • I prefer plates to bowls. You can prefer a present tense verb to another present tense verb. • I prefer running to walking. • I prefer eating to drinking. Now, here's where it gets tricky. For the comparative use (I prefer X to Y), you can combine nouns with present tense verbs, but NOT infinitives. CORRECT: I prefer planes to driving. CORRECT: I prefer driving to planes. INCORRECT: I prefer to drive to planes. INCORRECT: I prefer to run to to drive. CORRECT: I prefer running to driving. As a simple rule, don't use the word "to" more than one time in a sentence where you use "prefer".

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