Exercises

58.1 Which do you prefer? Write sentences using 'I prefer (something) to (something else)'. Put the verb into the correct form where necessary.

1. (drive/travel by train) _I prefer driving to travelling by train._

2. (tennis/football) I prefer ---

3. (phone people/write letters) I --- to ---

4. (go to the cinema/watch films on TV) ---

Now rewrite sentences 3 and 4 using the structure 'I prefer (to do something)...'.

5. (1) I prefer to drive rather travel by train.

6. (3) I prefer to ---

7. (4) ---

58.2 Write sentences using I'd prefer... or I'd rather... + one of the following:

eat at home get a taxi go alone go for a swim listen to some music stand think a out it for a while wait a few minutes wait till later

1. Shall we walk home? (prefer) _I'd prefer to get a taxi._

2. Do you want to eat now? (rather) _I'd rather wait till later._

3. Shall we watch TV? (prefer) ---

4. What about a game of tennis? (rather) ---

5. Shall we leave now? (rather) ---

6. Do you want to go to a restaurant? (prefer) ---

7. I think we should decide now? (rather) ---

8. Would you like to sit down? (rather) ---

9. Do you want me to come with you? (prefer) ---

Now write sentences using than and rather than.

10. (get a taxi/walk home) I'd prefer _to get a taxi rather than walk home._

11. (go for a swim/play tennis)

I'd rather ---

12. (wait a few minutes/leave now)

I'd rather ---

13. (eat at home/go to a restaurant)

I'd prefer ---

14. (think about it for a while/decide now)

I'd rather ---

58.3 Complete the sentences using would you rather I...

1. Are you going to cook the dinner or would you rather I cooked it?

2. Are you going to tell Ann what happened or would you rather ---?

3. Are you going to do the shopping or ---?

4. Are you going to answer the phone or ---?

58.4 Use your own ideas to complete these sentences.

1. Shall I tell Ann the news? ' 'No, I'd rather she didn't know.'

2. Do you want me to go now or would you rather I --- here?

3. Do you want to go out this evening or would you rather --- at home?

4. This is a private letter addressed to me. I'd rather you --- read it.

5. It's quite a nice house but I'd rather it --- a bit bigger.

6. Do you mind if I turn on the radio? ' 'I'd rather you --- I'm trying to study.'

UNIT 59. Preposition (in/for/about etc.) + ~ing

A. If a preposition (in/for/about etc.) is followed by a verb, the verb ends in ~ing. For example:

Are you interested in working for us?

I'm not very good at learning languages.

She must be fed up with studying.

What are the advantages of having a car?

This knife is only for cutting bread.

How about playing tennis tomorrow?

I bought a new bicycle instead of going away on holiday.

Carol went to work in spite of feeling ill.

You can also say 'interested in somebody (do)ing.....', fed up with you (do)ing...' etc.:

* I'm fed up with you telling me what to do.

B. Note the use of the following prepositions + ~ing:

before ~ing and after ~ing:

* Before going out, I phoned Sarah. (not 'Before to go out')

* What did you do after leaving school?

You can also say 'Before I went out...' and '... after you left school'.

by ~ing (to say bow something happens):

* The burglars got into the house by breaking a window and climbing in.

* You can improve your English by reading more.

* She made herself ill by not eating properly.

without ~ing:

* I ran ten kilometer without stopping.

* They climbed through the window without anybody seeing them. (or... without being seen.)

* She needs to work without people disturbing her. (or... without being disturbed.)

* It's nice to go on holiday without having to worry about money.

C. To ~ing

To is often part of the infinitive (to do/to see etc.):

* We decided to go out.

* Would you like to play tennis?

But to is also a preposition (like in/for/about/from etc.). For example:

* We drove from London to Edinburgh.

* I prefer tea to coffee.

* Are you looking forward to the weekend?

If a preposition is followed by a verb, the verb ends in ~ing; (in doing/about going etc.- see Section A). So, when to is a preposition and it is followed by a verb, you must say to ~ing:

* I prefer driving to travelling by train. (not 'to travel')

* Are you looking forward to seeing Ann again? (not 'looking forward to see')

For be/get used to ~ing, see Unit 60.