This grammar exercise tests your ability to use prefer and would rather correctly.
Fill in the blanks.
1. I don’t like the hectic life in the city. I prefer ……………………… in the countryside.
Correct!
Wrong!
Prefer can be followed by a to-infinitive or an ing form.
2. I prefer to walk ………………………………….. drive.
Correct!
Wrong!
3. I ……………………….. be very busy than have nothing to do.
Correct!
Wrong!
Prefer is followed by a to-infinitive or an ing form. Would rather is followed by a bare infinitive.
4. I would rather wait …………………………. leave without meeting the manager.
Correct!
Wrong!
5. I prefer ………………………….. on my own rather than sharing my space with wrong people.
Correct!
Wrong!
Prefer can be followed by an infinitive or an ing form. However, in this case since we used an ing form after rather than, we need an ing form after prefer.
6. I ………………………….. cook my food than eat out.
Correct!
Wrong!
7. I would prefer to go by bus than .................................. home.
Correct!
Wrong!
8. I would rather you ……………………….. her.
Correct!
Wrong!
Would rather + subject is followed by a verb in the simple past tense.
9. I don’t want to go out this evening. I would rather ……………………….. at home.
Correct!
Wrong!
10. ‘Would you mind if I opened the window?’ ‘I would rather you ……………………………. I am feeling cold.’
Correct!
Wrong!
11. I don’t feel like cooking. I would rather you ………………………. dinner tonight.
Correct!
Wrong!
12. ‘Let’s leave now.’ ‘No. I would rather ……………………….. a bit longer.’
Correct!
Wrong!
Answers
- I don’t like the hectic life in the city. I prefer to live / living in the countryside.
- I prefer to walk rather than drive.
- I would rather be very busy than have nothing to do.
- I would rather wait than leave without meeting the manager.
- I prefer living on my own rather than sharing my space with wrong people.
- I would rather cook my food than eat out.
- I would prefer to go by bus than walk home.
- I would rather you didn’t tell her.
- I don’t want to go out this evening. I would rather stay at home.
- ‘Would you mind if I opened the window?’ ‘I would rather you didn’t. I am feeling cold.’
- I don’t feel like cooking. I would rather you made dinner tonight.
- ‘Let’s leave now.’ ‘No. I would rather stay a bit longer.’
