prefer 作及物动词使用,通常意思是“更喜欢,宁愿”.
1.prefer + 名词/动名词/不定式
例：I prefer some apples./ I prefer having(to have) some apples.我更喜欢吃苹果.
2.prefer somebody to do something 宁愿某人做某事
例：My daddy prefers me not to swim in that river because it's too dangerous.
我爸爸宁愿我不要去那条河里游泳因为那太危险了.
3.prefer A to B 在 A 和 B 中更喜欢 A
例：I prefer green tea to coffee.绿茶和咖啡比较起来我更喜欢绿茶.
I prefer cooking myself to eating out.我宁愿自己做饭也不愿出去吃.
注意:注意这个用法中肯定的是前者,A和B必须在形式上保持一致,即要么都是名词,要么都是动名词.没有使用不定式的用法.
4.prefer to do something rather than ...
这个用法类似于用法3,不过rather than后面可以是不定式、名词、动名词或动词原形.
例：I prefer to stay at home rather than go out in the heavy rain.
我宁愿呆在家里也不想冒这么大的雨出去.
注意:这里 rather than 后面可以用 going out或to go out 都可以.而且 rather than 也可以放在句子开头：Rather than go out in the heavy rain,I prefer to stay at home.
5.宾语从句 prefer that
宾语从句中常用虚拟语气.
例：I prefer that we should gather more information on that issue.
我觉得关于那个事情我们最好收集更多信息.
6.prefer 用法的常用成语及习惯用语
prefer to die rather than surrender 宁死不屈