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# prefer

«prefer» in Mova's school dictionary: **to like one thing more than another, or to choose it if…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

verb (prefer, prefers, preferred, preferring)

### meaning for a pupil

1) To prefer means to like one thing more than another, or to choose it if you can. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prefer/#m1)

2) «I would prefer…» is a polite way to say what you want. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prefer/#m2)

### sense in the lessons

In maths and data lessons, surveys ask which option people prefer, and the results are shown in tally charts and bar charts. In manners: «Would you prefer juice or milk?» and «I'd prefer not to» are polite ways to ask and say no. In science, animals prefer certain habitats: woodlice prefer damp, dark places. Phrases: «prefer A to B», «prefer to do», «I'd prefer», «preferred».

### examples

- I prefer apples to oranges. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prefer/#x1)
- Would you prefer tea or juice? [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prefer/#x2)
- My cat prefers sleeping in the sun. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prefer/#x3)
- I'd prefer to stay inside today. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prefer/#x4)
- Woodlice prefer dark, damp places. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prefer/#x5)
- Most of the class preferred the beach to the zoo. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prefer/#x6)
- She prefers reading to watching TV. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prefer/#x7)
- I'd prefer not to talk about it. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prefer/#x8)

### note

Double the r with endings: «preferred, preferring» (stress is on «-FER»). Say «prefer A to B», not «prefer A than B». Noun: «preference»; adjective: «preferable» (stress on PREF). «Prefer» already means «like more», so «more prefer» is wrong.

### In the corpora

- [Dubbing means recording new voices in another language; some countries prefer subtitles, the written words at the bottom of the screen.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/arts/24-voices-sound-and-music-in-films-and-cartoons/8/)
- [Goats prefer leaves, twigs and shrubs to grass, and in Morocco some goats climb argan trees to eat the fruit.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/biology/211-sheep-and-goats-wool-flocks-climbers-and-the-tin-can-myth/10/)
- [Mice prefer grains, seeds and sweet foods to cheese, so peanut butter works better in humane traps.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/biology/228-cartoon-pets-and-animal-myths-put-right/8/)
- [Mice will eat cheese, but they prefer grains, seeds and sweet foods, so people baiting traps usually use peanut butter.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/biology/237-animal-minds-what-dogs-and-cats-feel-and-understand-and-do-cats-really-chase-mice/9/)
- [Most people, when they grow up, prefer the truth told gently.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/433-big-kids-little-kids-and-the-truth-at-home/29/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «prefer» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/prefer/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.