“Prefer”: Definition, Usage Rules and Verb Forms

Prefer – to favor one object or person over others. “Prefer” shows a preference rather than an accidental selection, and it is one of the most difficult verbs in terms of grammar to handle.

Part of speech:

Verb (stative, regular)

Phonetic transcription (IPA):

/prɪˈfɝː/

CEFR level:

А1

Word frequency:

How to Pronounce “Prefer”?

Audio (UK):

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Audio (US):

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“Prefer” has two syllables: pre-FER. The primary stress falls on the second syllable, so native speakers say prih-FUR, not PRE-fer. The first vowel is the short /ɪ/ sound, as in “sit”, “live”, and “begin”. The second syllable contains the r-colored vowel /ɝː/, the same sound heard in “bird”, “work”, and “learn”.

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Tenses and Conjugation of “Prefer”

It is a regular verb, so the past simple and past participle are formed by adding -ed (prefer → preferred). Because “prefer” ends with a single vowel + single consonant, the final r doubles before -ed and -ing.

Basic Forms of the Verb “Prefer”

Form	Structure	Example
Base Form	prefer	I prefer travelling by train whenever possible.
Past Simple	preferred	She preferred the earlier flight because it arrived before noon.
Past Participle	preferred	They’ve always preferred quiet beaches to busy resorts.
Gerund	preferring	Preferring homemade meals over fast food has become a healthy habit.
Third Person Singular	prefers	He prefers working in the morning.

Perfect Forms

Tense	Structure	Example
Present Perfect	have/has preferred	I’ve always preferred mountain holidays to beach vacations.
Past Perfect	had preferred	She had preferred remote work long before it became common.
Future Perfect	will have preferred	By the end of the trial, most users will have preferred the upgraded version.

Tip:

“Prefer” is mainly a stative verb, so it is usually not used in continuous tenses. Native speakers normally say:

 I prefer working from home.
 She has always preferred classical music.

The Four Grammar Patterns of “Prefer”

This is the most crucial part of the guide, and one which students tend to neglect at their own peril. “Prefer” is rather unique in that it can be followed by four very different grammatical constructions, all of them correct, but none of them quite alike. Getting them mixed up will have your sentence sounding unnatural or conveying a different meaning than intended.

Pattern 1: Prefer + Noun/Gerund + to + Noun/Gerund

This is the most formal and most explicit comparison pattern. You prefer one thing to another. The two things being compared must be grammatically parallel: both nouns, or both gerunds.

She prefers coffee to tea. (noun to noun)

He prefers working independently to being in a large team. (gerund to gerund)

They prefer taking the train to driving. (gerund to gerund)

Pattern 2: Prefer + Gerund (no comparison stated)

When you state a preference without explicitly comparing it to something else, the verb is followed directly by the gerund.

 She prefers working from home. (no explicit comparison)
 He prefers travelling alone. (general preference stated)
 They prefer arriving early. (habitual preference)

Pattern 3: Would Prefer + Infinitive (with to)

“Would prefer” is used to express a preference about a specific situation, usually right now or in the near future. It is always followed by the full infinitive (to + verb).

I would prefer to take the later flight.

She would prefer to discuss it in person rather than by email.

He would prefer to avoid the motorway at rush hour.

Pattern 4: Would Prefer + Object + Infinitive

When expressing a preference about what someone else does, the structure is “would prefer + object + to + infinitive.”

 I would prefer you to call before arriving. (you = the object)
 She would prefer the team to submit reports on Fridays, not Mondays.
 He would prefer us to wait rather than proceed without all the information.

“Prefer” in Spanish, French, and German

The verb “prefer” can be found in many other European languages, and it functions very similarly to the English version of the word. This verb is used to indicate the preference for a certain individual, object, or choice.

Language	Translation
Spanish	preferir
French	préférer
German	bevorzugen / lieber mögen (in everyday speech)

Use Prefer Correctly in English: Examples and Tips