Prefer и Would rather
Prefer
Мы употребляем prefer чтобы сказать, что нам нравится какая-то вещь больше,
чем другая, вообще, независимо от ситуации.
Мы используем to когда сравниваем две вещи.
She prefers fish to meat.
I prefer "Camel" to other cigarets.
I prefer driving to travelling by train.
I prefer listening to music to watching TV.
Вы можете использовать prefer с инфинитивом для сравнения двух действий,
но вы должны поставить rather than вместо to. Во второй части возможна сокращенная форма.
I prefer to eat at home rather than to go to a restaurant.
My mother prefers to live in the country rather than in a city.
Мы используем would prefer чтобы выразить предпочтение в какой-то специфической ситуации (не в общем).
Для вещей:
"Would you prefer tea or coffee?" "Coffee, please."
I'd prefer red fish and a glass of french vine, please.
Для действий мы используем только инфинитив, но не герундий.
I'd prefer to stay at home tonight rather than go to the cinema.
He would prefer to come with us.
Would you prefer me to drive?
I'd prefer to go by myself.
Would rather
Would rather do ... имеет то же значениие, что и would prefer to do ....
Заметьте, что здесь мы используем инфинитив без to.
"Shall we go by train?" "I'd rather drive."
I'd rather stay at home and read a book.
Отрицательная форма имеет видЖ I'd rather not (do something)
I'm so tired. I'd rather not watch TV this evening, I'd rather go to sleep.
I'd rather not eat tonight.
Когда мы сравниваем два действия, мы употребляем than.
I'd rather stay at home tonight than go to the cinema.
I'd rather throw it away than somebody use it.
Когда вы даете совет кому-то, используйте Past Simple.
"Shall I stay here?" "I'd rather you came with us."
"I'll repair your bike tomorrow, OK?" "I'd rather you did it today."
"Are you going to tell them what happened?" "No. I'd rather they didn't know."
It's very difficult I would imagine.