Prefer와 would rather

1. Prefer to do와 prefer doing

prefer to (do)와 prefer - ing는 일반적으로 선호하는 것을 말할 때 사용합니다. 두 가지 대상을 비교하지 않을 때는 prefer to (do)와 prefer -ing 모두 사용할 수 있습니다:

• • I don't like cities. I prefer to live in the country. or I prefer living in the country.

예전에 prefer A to B ( B보다 A가 더 낫다)를 학교에서 배운 것이 기억나는군요. prefer는 두 대상을 비교하여 하나를 더 선호한다라는 의미를 표현하기 위해 몇 가지 구조를 사용합니다:

• • I prefer this coat to the coat you were wearing yesterday.

  • I prefer driving to traveling by train.

but • I prefer to drive rather than travel by train.

• Ann prefers to live in the country rather than in a city. or ... rather than live in the city.

2. Would prefer (I'd prefer)

would prefer는 광범위하고 일반적인 상황이 아닌 한정된 상황에서 누군가 어떤 것을 원할 때 사용합니다:

• • "Would you prefer tea or coffee?" "Coffee, please."

Would prefer 뒤에는 반드시 to ... (부정사)를 사용합니다. -ing는 사용하지 않습니다:

• "Should we take the train?" "No, I'd prefer to drive." (not I'd prefer driving)

• I'd prefer to stay home tonight rather than go to the movies.

자세한 내용은 동사 + -ing 또는 to ... (부정사)의 8항을 참고하기 바랍니다.

3. Would rather (I'd rather)

would rather는 would prefer와 같은 의미로 사용되는 표현입니다. would rather 뒤에는 동사 원형(do/have/stay 등)을 사용합니다. 아래 예문들을 비교해 보겠습니다:

• "Would you rather have tea or coffee?" "Coffee, please."

부정문은 "I'd rather not (do something)"을 사용합니다:

• • I'm tired. I'd rather not go out tonight, if you don't mind.

  • "Do you want to go out tonight?" "I'd rather not."

"would rather do something than do something else" 구조를 사용할 수 있습니다:

• • I'd rather stay home than go to the movies.

4. I'd rather you did something

"I'd rather you do something"이라고 하지 않고 "I'd rather you did something"이라고 말합니다:

• • "I'll fix the car tomorrow, OK?" "I'd rather you did it today." (= I'd prefer this)

  • "Is it OK if Ben stays here?" "I'd rather he came with us." (not he comes)

  • Should I tell them the news, or would you rather they didn't know? (not don't know)

이 구조에서는 과거 형(did/came, 등.)을 사용했지만 그 의미는 과거가 아닙니다. 비교해 보세요:

I'd rather make dinner now.

but I'd rather you made dinner now. (not I'd rather you make)

I'd rather you didn't (do something) = I'd prefer that you not to do it

• • I'd rather you didn't tell anyone what I said.

  • "Should I tell Stephanie?" "I'd rather you didn't."