Rather vs prefer

[alx]

Hi everybody,

I've been wondering if there's any difference between "would rather" and "would prefer", do you use them interchangeably?

Additionally, a few days back, a workmate wrote something like "I'd rather prefer...", at first, I thought he was wrong but he keeps using that structure and I'm doubtful now since he speaks English natively.
Do you think it's a common structure?

I look forward to hearing your views.

Thanks.

[Rusty]

The usage of 'would rather' is idiomatic. It means the same thing as 'would prefer'. Both can used interchangeably, but a bare infinitive follows 'would rather', while a noun, gerund, or a noun clause follows 'would prefer'.

I would prefer going to the movies.
I would rather go to the movies.

I would prefer the red one.

I would prefer having|buying|getting the red one.
I would rather have|buy|get the red one.

I would rather not go.
I would prefer not going.


Instead of "I'd rather prefer," I'd rather use one of the two forms above. "I'd rather prefer" is used, but I wouldn't use it.

[ChilenoAlemanCanada]

I would never use that sentence structure, it just sounds weird. I'd rather and to prefer are used separately. They both mean the same thing.

[alx]

Thank you both, I knew something wasn't right with that phrase.

@Rusty, thanks for those examples, they're very useful.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by alx

Additionally, a few days back, a workmate wrote something like "I'd rather prefer...", at first, I thought he was wrong

If he really did say that, then he was wrong. You can use either rather or prefer, but not both.

[Awaken]

As Rusty said, "I'd rather" is an idiomatic way of saying you prefer one thing over the other.

So, indirectly what you are really saying is:

Generic Use:
I would rather do ABC than do XYZ.

I would rather go to the movies (than stay at home). People just leave out the "than" phrase for speed.

In these cases, rather and prefer mean the same in everyday use like Rusty pointed out.

[alx]

Thanks Perikles and Awaken, now it's clear.