1 prefer 使用 "prefer" 用来表明通常喜欢某件事甚于另一件事。说话者喜欢打高尔夫球更甚于喜欢打网球。"prefer" 的后面可以接名词（"golf"），动名词("playing")，或不定式（"to play"）。
Do you prefer golf or tennis?
I prefer golf.
I prefer playing golf.
I prefer to play golf.
2 Would prefer 使用 would prefer 来表明在某一特定情况下喜欢某样东西甚于另一样东西。would prefer 后接名词，动名词，或不定式。
Would she prefer coffee or tea?
She would prefer coffee. (这位女士平时可能不喜欢喝咖啡，但在这种情况下她想喝咖啡)
She would prefer drinking coffee.
She would prefer to drink coffee.
3 Would rather 与 would prefer 意思相同，但是它后面只可以接动词原型，不能接名词，动名词，不定式。
Would they rather visit Paris or New York City?
They would rather visit Paris.
4 would prefer not 与 would rather not 的否定式
Would you rather eat spicy food or mild food?
I would rather not eat spicy food.
I would prefer not to eat spicy food.
5 prefer 与 would prefer 疑问句
Do you prefer golf?
Yes I do. No, I don't
Would she prefer coffee?
Yes, she would.
Would they rather visit Calcutta?
No they wouldn't.
Would they like to eat spicy food?
No, they would rahter not.
No, they would prefer not to.
No, they wouldn't.
6 在两个选项之间选择时，使用prefer...to... 或者 rather...than... 对于prefer...to...可以使用名词，动名词，不定式。 对于rather...than...使用动词原型。
Which would you prefer?
I would prefer eating at the hotel to going out.
I would rather walk than dirve.