例:Tom would rather/sooner read than talk./ Tom prefers reading to talking.
注意:would rather后跟不带to的不定式+than+不带 to的不定式,而prefer后跟动名词+to+动名词。
有时prefer后面也可跟名词,而在would rather之后要求只带动词原形。
例: He prefers wine to beer.= He would rather drink wine than beer.
@某些 prefer+名词的情况不能用 would rather完全确切地表达出来:
例:He prefers dogs to cats./He would rather have dogs than cats.很明显,这两句的意思并不完全相同。
@ would rather+不带to的不定式有时可代替 would prefer+带 to的不定式。
例: I’d rather fly than go by sea.=I’d prefer to fly. 我宁愿乘飞机也不愿乘船。
@这两个结构后面带名词时情况也一样:
例: —Would you like some gin? —I’d prefer a coffee.=I’d rather have coffee than gin.
@would rather/sooner和would prefer后面都可跟完成式,但后者带to。
例: We went by sea but I’d rather have gone by air=I’d prefer to have gone by air.
(我愿意乘飞机去,可我的愿望未能实现)