Preferring things

We often have to make choices and sometimes we make those choices together with other people. Here are ten English phrases that you can use to say which choice you like best.

I'd (much) prefer to stay in
I'd (much) rather stay in
I'd go for an Indian meal (any time).
I much prefer wine to lager.
Give me Italian wine any day.
If it was up to me, I'd choose London.
Going to a concert is more my kind of thing.
Given the choice, I'd rather stay in.
London would be preferable to Oxford.
The boys expressed a strong preference for

Explanations

• In phrases 1 and 2 the word 'much' makes the phrase much stronger.
• Phrase 3 means that the speaker always prefers Indian food to the other choices.
• Phrase 4 shows the speaker prefers win a lot.
• Phrase 5 is a strong, informal phrase that is probably spoken. The speaker is saying that she will always choose Italian wine over the other possible choices.
• In phrase 6 the speaker is saying that he prefers London. He is also saying that his opinion is not the most important. This is polite.
• Phrase 7 is an informal and quite gentle way of saying that the speaker prefers concerts to another suggestion.
• Phrase 8 is saying that the speaker would prefer to stay in but that she will probably go out because other people want to do this.
• Phrase 9 is a formal (possibly written) expression to say that the speaker prefers London.
• Phrase 10 is a formal (possibly written) expression to say that somebody else (the boys) prefer something. Follow this with a noun or noun phrase.