Preferring things

We often have to make choices and sometimes we make those choices together with other people.

Here are ten English phrases that you can use to say which choice you like best.

Ten ways to say what you prefer

casual · neutral · formal

I'd (much) prefer to stay inneutralIt's raining. I'd much prefer to stay in.
I'd (much) rather stay inneutralI'd rather stay in and watch a film.
I'd go for an Indian meal (any time).casualChinese or Indian? I'd go for an Indian meal any time.
I much prefer wine to lager.neutralI much prefer tea to coffee.
Give me Italian wine any day.casualGive me a king coconut any day.
If it was up to me, I'd choose London.neutralIf it was up to me, I'd choose Ella for the trip.
Going to a concert is more my kind of thing.casualGoing to a concert is more my kind of thing.
Given the choice, I'd rather stay in.neutralGiven the choice, I'd rather work from home.
London would be preferable to Oxford.formalA morning meeting would be preferable to an evening one.
The boys expressed a strong preference forformalThe students expressed a strong preference for online exams.

How to use them

In the word 'much' makes the phrase much stronger.
means that the speaker always prefers Indian food to the other choices.
shows the speaker prefers win a lot.
is a strong, informal phrase that is probably spoken. The speaker is saying that she will always choose Italian wine over the other possible choices.
In the speaker is saying that he prefers London. He is also saying that his opinion is not the most important. This is polite.
is an informal and quite gentle way of saying that the speaker prefers concerts to another suggestion.
is saying that the speaker would prefer to stay in but that she will probably go out because other people want to do this.
is a formal (possibly written) expression to say that the speaker prefers London.
is a formal (possibly written) expression to say that somebody else (the boys) prefer something. Follow this with a noun or noun phrase.

Quick check

Tap an answer. Nothing is saved.

Finished this one? Tick it off. It is saved on this device only.