Sales have gone down, and obviously we’d prefer it if that didn’t happen.
销售下滑了,显然我们是不希望这样的。
b)NOT DO somethingused when telling someone politely not to do something 我希望〔用于礼貌地告诉别人不要做某事〕
I’d prefer it if you didn’t smoke in front of the children.
我希望你不要在孩子面前抽烟。
Examples from the Corpus
I would prefer it if• I'd prefer it if you would not insult my friends.• I would prefer it if we had a bigger house, but we can't afford it.
3.prefer chargesBritish EnglishBrE lawSCL to make an officialstatement that someone has done something illegal 起诉,提出控告
nGrammar
Patterns with prefer
You prefer to do something:
I prefer to read a book.
✗Don’t say: I prefer read a book.
You prefer doing something:
We prefer going abroad for our vacation.
✗Don’t say: We prefer go abroad.
You say that you would prefer it if someone did something:
We would prefer it if you didn’t tell anyone.
✗Don’t say: We would prefer it if you don’t tell anyone.
Using the progressive
Prefer is not used in the progressive in meaning 1. You say:
I prefer the blue one.
✗Don’t say: I am preferring the blue one.
Examples from the Corpus
prefer• "Which restaurant shall we go to?'' "I really don't mind. Whichever one you prefer.''• Gina could crawl in beside them or sleep on the sofa downstairs if she preferred.• You can ask to speak to a lesbian if you prefer.• A dedicatedbreadeater will usually prefer a dense, sour, small, moist, round pumpernickel to a light rye.• Which color do you prefer - blue or red?• Which bread do you prefer, brown or white?• She doesn't like romanticfiction -- she much prefersdetective stories.• I'm beginning to like Japanese food. I certainly preferrice to potatoes.• Brad Pitt? Oh no, I much prefer Russell Crowe!• Dave wants to go to New York again, but I'd prefer somewhere more exotic.• If invested instead in bonds or preferredstock, that same dollar would be worth less than $ 1,000.• She preferred the sizzlinganimosity between them to this ... this awkwardness.• French people usually prefer to buy goods that are made in France.• He would prefer to help boostpoor working families' incomes through tax breaks.• Cops and gangstersalikeprefer to see pachinko remain uneasily in limbo.• Most of my friends take the bus to school, but I prefer to walk.• When I wrote to congratulate him on the latter, he telephoned, which he apparently preferred to writing.• Mark likes lying on the beach, but I prefer visiting museums.• She seems to prefer watching soapoperas to talking to me.
prefer that• Clearly, most men would prefer thatbattlespass them by completely.• I personally would have preferred thatdecision to already have been taken.• We prefer thatfamed political motto of the Reagan administration: Mistakes were made.• She would have preferred that none of this take place..• I should prefer that the appointments are not given to the governors of the banks of individualmember states.• Some companies prefer that their top executives have specializedbackgrounds and hire individuals who are managers in other organizations.• Be decided from the outset - they prefer that, then they know what they can expect from you.• I would however prefer that you got as much advice as possible from the books first.
Originprefer
(1300-1400)Frenchpréférer, from Latinpraeferre“to put in front, prefer”
ADVERB | VERB + PREFER | PREPOSITIONADVERB➤greatly, much, overwhelmingly, strongly, vastly喜歡⋯得多;非常傾向於◇I greatly prefer this version.我更喜歡這一版本。◇I much prefer the orchestra's 1998 recording of the symphony.我更喜歡這支管弦樂隊 1998 年錄製的這部交響曲。➤just, simply只是比較喜歡◇You may simply prefer just to sit on the terrace with a cocktail.你也許只是想坐在陽台上喝一杯雞尾酒。➤really實際上更喜歡◇I would really prefer to teach girls.我實際上更喜歡教女孩子。➤rather, slightly有點兒更喜歡;稍稍傾向於▸➤certainly, definitely無疑比較喜歡◇Egg pasta is certainly preferred by many chefs.許多廚師無疑更喜歡雞蛋意大利麪。➤clearly, obviously顯然比較喜歡▸➤apparently似乎更喜歡◇Huge majorities apparently prefer reducing unemployment to fighting inflation.絕大多數人似乎希望降低失業率多於抑制通貨膨脹。➤generally, normally, typically, usually普遍較喜歡;通常更傾向於▸➤naturally自然比較喜歡◇Employers naturally prefer candidates with some previous experience of the job.雇主自然比較喜歡有相關工作經驗的求職者。➤personally個人更喜歡▸➤still仍然比較喜歡VERB + PREFER➤would更願意◇We can eat out if you like, but I would prefer to stay in.如果你喜歡,我們可以去外面吃飯,但是我更喜歡在家裏吃。➤tend to較傾向於◇Industries still tend to prefer virgin raw materials to recycled ones.工業界仍然傾向於使用天然原材料,而非再生材料。➤appear to, seem to似乎比較喜歡➤happen to碰巧喜歡◇I happen to prefer action movies myself.我自己碰巧喜歡動作片。PREPOSITION➤over喜歡⋯勝過⋯◇A son is usually preferred over a female heir.人們通常傾向於將兒子而非女兒選作繼承人。➤to喜歡⋯多於⋯◇I prefer his earlier paintings to his later ones.比起他晚年的畫作,我更喜歡他的早期作品。
prefer ♦︎ favour ♦︎ would rather...These words all mean to like one thing better than another.这些词均表示较喜欢、更愿意选择某事物。■prefer(-rr-) [transitive] (not used in the progressive tenses不用于进行时) to choose one thing rather than sth else because you like it better较喜欢;喜欢⋯多于⋯◆I prefer jazz to rock music.我喜欢爵士乐胜于摇滚乐。◆I would prefer it if you didn't tell anyone.我希望你别告诉任何人。◆A local firm is to be preferred.选一家当地的公司更好。◆I prefer my coffee black.我喜欢不加奶的咖啡。◆The donor prefers to remain anonymous.捐赠者希望不披露姓名。◆I prefer not to think about it.我不想考虑此事。◆Would you prefer me to stay?你想我留下来吗?◆I prefer playing in defence.我喜欢打防守。 see also preference ⇨ choice2, preference ⇨ taste1, preferred ⇨ favourite■favour (BrE) (NAmEfavor) [transitive] (ratherformal) to prefer one system, plan, way of doing sth, etc. to another较喜欢,选择(某体制、计划、做法等)◆Many countries favour a presidential system of government.许多国家选择总统制政府。◆It's a resort favoured by families with young children.那是个有小孩子的家庭喜欢去度假的地方。 see also favourite,favoured ⇨ favourite■would rather...
idiom
(especiallyspoken) (usually shortened to 'd rather通常缩写成'd rather) would prefer to宁愿;较喜欢◆I'd rather die than give a speech.我宁愿去死也不愿上台讲话。◆'Do you want to come with us?' 'No, I'd rather not.'“你想和我们一起去吗?”“不,我不想去。”◆Would you rather walk or take the bus?你想步行还是坐公共汽车?◆'Do you mind if I smoke?' 'Well, I'd rather you didn't.'“你介意我抽支烟吗?”“哦,最好不要。”