---
title: prefer — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «prefer» in the school dictionary: To prefer means to like one thing more than another, or to choose it if you can. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# prefer

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** I, you, cat, Woodlice, Most, She · **What happens:** prefer, mean, like, choose, be, say · **To what, where:** one thing, thing, polite way, apples, tea, sun. · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«prefer» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 8 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [prefer in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/prefer.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To prefer means to like one thing more than another, or to choose it if you can.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prefer:m1:1
# text = To prefer means to like one thing more than another, or to choose it if you can.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	prefer	prefer	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	csubj	_	_
3	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	like	like	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	thing	thing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	5	obj	_	_
9	than	than	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	8	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	to	to	PART	TO	_	14	mark	_	_
14	choose	choose	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	conj	_	_
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	_
16	if	if	SCONJ	IN	_	18	mark	_	_
17	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	18	nsubj	_	_
18	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	14	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prefer** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **like** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive |  | one thing |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 4 | **choose** | to-infinitive |  | thing |  |  |  |  | vn get-13.5.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
«I would prefer…» is a polite way to say what you want.

<!-- fold The tree, 12 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prefer:m2:1
# text = «I would prefer…» is a polite way to say what you want.
1	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	prefer	prefer	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	…	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
9	polite	polite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	10	amod	_	_
10	way	way	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
11	to	to	PART	TO	_	12	mark	_	_
12	say	say	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	acl	_	_
13	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	15	obj	_	_
14	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
15	want	want	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	12	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prefer** *in a quote* | would | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V that S»: agent=Experiencer |
| 2 | **is a** | present |  | a polite way |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **say** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V how S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 4 | **want** | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot what=Theme |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I prefer apples to oranges.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prefer:x1:1
# text = I prefer apples to oranges.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	prefer	prefer	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	apples	apple	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	to	to	ADP	IN	_	5	case	_	_
5	oranges	orange	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prefer** | present | I | apples |  |  |  | to oranges | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer apple=Stimulus |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Would you prefer tea or juice?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prefer:x2:1
# text = Would you prefer tea or juice?
1	Would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	prefer	prefer	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	tea	tea	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	juice	juice	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prefer** | would | you | tea or juice |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer tea=Stimulus |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
My cat prefers sleeping in the sun.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prefer:x3:1
# text = My cat prefers sleeping in the sun.
1	My	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	cat	cat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	prefers	prefer	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	sleeping	sleep	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	xcomp	_	_
5	in	in	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	sun.	sun.	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prefer** | present | My cat |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **sleep** *not said to happen* | gerund | My cat *not said here* |  |  | the sun. |  |  | vn fit-54.3 «NP V NP PP.location»: agent=Agent in sun.=Location |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I'd prefer to stay inside today.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prefer:x4:1
# text = I'd prefer to stay inside today.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'd	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	prefer	prefer	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	to	to	PART	TO	_	5	mark	_	_
5	stay	stay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
6	inside	inside	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
7	today	today	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl:unmarked	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prefer** | would | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **stay** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | I *not said here* |  |  |  | today | inside *property* | vn exist-47.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Woodlice prefer dark, damp places.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prefer:x5:1
# text = Woodlice prefer dark, damp places.
1	Woodlice	woodlice	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	prefer	prefer	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	dark	dark	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	damp	damp	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	amod	_	_
6	places	place	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prefer** | present | Woodlice | dark damp places |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer place=Stimulus |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Most of the class preferred the beach to the zoo.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prefer:x6:1
# text = Most of the class preferred the beach to the zoo.
1	Most	most	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	5	nsubj	_	_
2	of	of	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	class	class	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	nmod	_	_
5	preferred	prefer	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	7	det	_	_
7	beach	beach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	_
8	to	to	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	zoo	zoo	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prefer** | past | Most of the class | the beach |  |  |  | to the zoo | vn admire-31.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer beach=Stimulus |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She prefers reading to watching TV.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prefer:x7:1
# text = She prefers reading to watching TV.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	prefers	prefer	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	reading	read	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	2	xcomp	_	_
4	to	to	SCONJ	IN	_	5	mark	_	_
5	watching	watch	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	3	advcl	_	_
6	TV	TV	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prefer** | present | She |  |  |  |  |  | vn admire-31.2 «NP V S\_ING»: agent=Experiencer clause=Stimulus |
| 2 | **read** *not said to happen* | gerund | She *not said here* |  |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 3 | **watch** | gerund | She *not said here* | TV |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tv=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I'd prefer not to talk about it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:prefer:x8:1
# text = I'd prefer not to talk about it.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	'd	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	_
3	prefer	prefer	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
4	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	talk	talk	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	3	xcomp	_	_
7	about	about	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **prefer** | would | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **talk** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | I *not said here* |  |  |  |  | about it | vn talk-37.5 «NP V PP.topic»: agent=Agent about it=Topic |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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