prefer最常见的意思是"宁可"、"宁愿(选择)"、"比较喜欢"、"更喜欢"等,可以构成以下结构.

一.prefer sth.

"Do you like French?""Yes,but I prefer English.""你喜欢法语吗?""喜欢,但是我更喜欢英语."

注:prefer是"比较喜欢,更喜欢"的意思,即like better,因此就不能再与better,more等比较级词语连用.

二.prefer over sth.

I prefer over this newly-built lab,and you?我比较喜欢这个新建的实验室,你呢?

They prefer over new works that sing of their life today.他们更喜欢歌颂他们今天生活的新作品.

三.prefer sth.above all others

I prefer the book above all others.我最喜欢这本书.

四.prefer A to B

I prefer the original book to the revised edition.我觉得原书比修订本好.

五.prefer doing A to doing B

Even on holidays Mr.Wang preferred reading to doing nothing.即使在假日,王先生宁愿读书而不愿闲着.

注:在这种结构中,to为介词,而不是不定式符号,故其后应当接动名词形式,决不能接动词原形.另外,为了保持前后对应关系,prefer后面也应当接动名词形式.

六.prefer to do sth.

They prefer to spend the rest of the morning wandering in the streets.他们比较喜欢把早上剩下的时间都用来在街上闲逛.

七.prefer doing sth.

So you prefer speaking without referring to your notes?这么说,你更喜欢不看稿子做报告了?

注:这种prefer后面接动名词的结构,用来谈论一般情况下"更喜欢某种活动",而在一个特定场合下表示"特别喜欢"时,得用上述prefer后接动词不定式结构.

八.prefer to do sth.rather than do sth.

These workers prefered to work extra hours at night rather than leave the work until the next week.这些工人宁愿加班干,也不愿把工作留到下一个星期.

注:这种结构中的rather than可以置于句首.例如:

Rather than go on holiday to the seaside I prefer to work days and go to school nights.我宁愿白天工作,晚上上学,而不愿到海边度假.

注:有时rather可以移至第一个不定式之前,而让than留在第二个不定式之前,即为prefer rather...than结构.这种用法多见于书面语言,在口语中很少用.

九.prefer to do sth.rather than doing sth.

They prefer to join in the celebrations rather than going on a visit to the Palace Museum.他们宁愿参加庆祝活动而不愿参观故宫.

注:有时名词也可用于rather than之后,这种用法多用以表示在某种具体场合的选择.

十.prefer sb.to do sth.

I prefer you to spare some time to come to our art exhibition next week.我宁愿你们下星期抽出点时间来看看我们的美展.

十一.prefer+that-clause.在that宾语从句中,我们应当用虚拟语气"should+动词原形",其中的should可以省略.

We prefer that each new student take a science course.我们希望每位新生修一门理科课程.

十二.prefer sth.(or sb.)+adj.

I prefer the door open.我宁愿门开着.

I prefer my coffee black.我爱喝不加奶的咖啡

还有以下注意：

1、后接不定式时与rather than 或instead of连用,如：He prefered to die rather than (to) steal./ He perfered to die instead of stealing.他宁死也不去偷窃.

2、注意介词搭配,如：I prefer swimming to skating.(I like swimming better than skating.)我喜欢游泳胜过滑冰.prefer 因其本身含有比较之意,而不可再与more 或most连用.

3、prefer＋名词或动名词“宁愿”,“更喜欢”.He comes from Shanghai,so he prefers rice.他是上海人,因此更喜欢吃米饭.I prefer going by bike.我宁愿骑单车去.I prefer the white one.我喜欢那个白的.

4、prefer to do “愿意做”.I prefer to go at once.我愿意马上就走.

5、prefer sb.to do “愿意某人做” I prefer you to go at once.我倒希望你马上就走.

6、prefer to sth.“宁愿做...而不做...”.I prefer tea to milk.我宁愿喝茶也不喝牛奶.I prefer watching TV to going out.我宁愿看电视也不出去.

7、prefer to do sth.rather than do sth.“宁愿做...而不做...” I prefer to watch TV rather than go out.我宁愿呆在家里也不出去.

8、prefer＋ that从句“宁愿”（从句一般用虚拟语气）I prefer that you should do it.我宁愿你做这件事.

这些是prefer的用法,你认真看,对你有很大帮忙的~