TELLING PREFERENCES (belajar English)

Structure II

TELLING PREFERENCES

There are some ways we can use to show our preferences. Using the following expressions we want to show our own preferences. Personally, we think that something or doing something is better than others, so we’d like to take it or to do it.

A. Subject+like + noun/gerunds + better than + noun/gerunds.

- I like reading better than writing.

- My nephew likes apples better than watermelons.

- My mother likes cooking better than washing.

- We like drinking soft drinks better than wine.

B. Subject +prefer + noun/gerunds + to + noun/gerunds.

- I prefer an English Dept. to Clothing Dept.

- Shelly prefers watching TV to listening to music.

- I prefer studying to taking a walk.

- She prefers watering the flowers to cleaning the bathroom.

C. Subject+would prefer + to inf + than + to inf

- My family would prefer to stay here than move to another town.

- My boyfriend would prefer to accompany me than go to campus.

- Linda would prefer to take an English course than (to take ) a computer course.

- Mr Herry would prefer to go fishing than drive her wife to the mall.

D. Subject+would rather + simple form of verb + than + simple form of verb

- My parents would rather go to the beach than stay at home.

- My father would rather read magazines than accompany us to the market.

- The dog would rather eat meat than fruits.

- Anton would rather drink Coca Cola than Sprite.

- I would rather stay at home.

- Deni would rather come with me.

E. Subject+had better + simple form of verb.

- You’d better go to the doctor about your cough.

- You’d better not do that again.

- We’d better meet early

- You’d better marry her soon.

We also use “had better” to give a suggestion in which if the advice is not followed, something bad will happen.

- You'd better do what I say or else you will get into trouble.

- We’d better leave now or we’ll miss the train.

- I'd better get back to work or my boss will be angry with me.

- We'd better get to the airport by five or else we may miss the flight.

Exercise : Write sentences to provide examples of telling preferences using the above ways. Write two sentences for each way.

Present Contrary to Fact

( Siti is absent today)

- I would rather that Siti were present.

- I would rather that Siti were not absent.

(Eko’s wife works in a different town)

- Eko would rather that his wife worked in the same town.

(You do not agree with my opinion)

- I ‘d rather that you agreed with my opinion.

Past Contrary to Fact

(Erika bought an expensive dress)

- I would rather that Erika had bought a cheaper dress.

- I would rather that Erika hadn’t bought an expensive dress.

Had better

We use “had better” plus the infinitive without “to” to give advice. Although “had” is the past form of “have”, we use “had better” to give advice about the present or future.

· You'd better tell her everything.

· I'd better get back to work.

· We'd better meet early.

The negative form is “had better not”.

· You'd better not say anything.

· I'd better not come.

· We'd better not miss the start of his presentation.

We use “had better” to give advice about specific situations, not general ones. If you want to talk about general situations, you must use “should”.

· You should brush your teeth before you go to bed.

· I shouldn't listen to negative people.

· He should dress more appropriately for the office.

When we give advice about specific situations, it is also possible to use “should”.

· You shouldn't say anything.

· I should get back to work.

· We should meet early.

However, when we use “had better” there is a suggestion that if the advice is not followed, that something bad will happen.

· You'd better do what I say or else you will get into trouble.

· I'd better get back to work or my boss will be angry with me.

· We'd better get to the airport by five or else we may miss the flight.