'd prefer/'d rather

'd rather 与 'd prefer 虽然词义相同,但用法不同。因此,它们不能简单地进行互换。A. would prefer 后接带 to 的动词不定式,而 would rather 则要求接不带 to 的动词不定式。例如：

1. What would you rather have, an apple or a piece of cake? 你愿意要什么,是苹果还是糕点?

2. I would prefer to work. 我宁愿工作。

3. I would (should) prefer to wait until evening. 我宁愿等到晚上。

另外, would prefer 还可以接名词和动名词, 而 would rather 则不能:

I'd prefer a cup of tea. 我宁愿来一杯茶。

B. would prefer 与 would rather 的另一个区别, 就是前者可以跟宾语 + 带 to 的动词不定式 (宾语补足语), 即 would prefer + sb. + to + v, 而 would rather 却没有这种用法。

1. “May I wash the dishes?” “I’d prefer you to dry them.” “我可以洗盘子吗?” “我倒愿意让你把它们擦干。”

2. I'd prefer him to paint the door blue. 我宁愿他把门漆成蓝色。

[附注]我们做老师的还要掌握它们之间的另一个区别：

would prefer + 宾语从句时,从句的时态通常用现在虚拟式(虚拟语气现在时)或 should + 动词原形,而 would rather + 宾语从句时,从句的时态要用过去虚拟式。详情见 would rather (that)。

为全面计,还应补充指出,would prefer + 宾语从句时,宾语从句除使用现在虚拟式或 should + 动词原形之外,还可以使用过去虚拟式:

1. I'd prefer that he remain forgotten ... (Cobuild) 我倒希望他还是被人遗忘掉的好……

2. I'd prefer that the job were a little closer to my home. (MED) 我宁愿工作地点离家近一些。

3. Val would presumably prefer that you didn't get arrested. (NODE) 瓦尔大概希望你不被逮捕。

4. I should prefer that you did not stay there too long. 我倒希望你在那儿不要呆得太久。请做下面的英语试题：

5. —— Shall we go skating or stay at home? —— Which ____ do yourself?

A. do you rather B. would you rather

C. will you rather D. should you rather(全国高考,92-13)

2. "Can he clean his motor cycle in the kitchen?" "I'd prefer ____ it in the garage."

A. him to clean B. he cleans C. he will clean D. him cleaning