Do you prefer X to Y?
Aims
In this lesson you’ll master the Formula for Do you prefer X to Y? type questions.
Do you prefer writing letters or sending emails?
Do you prefer talking on the phone or chatting online?
Do you prefer to travel by bike or on foot?
The formula
When the examiner asks you Do you prefer X to Y? type questions, you must:
Answer order
- State which one you prefer.
Sử dụng một trong ba cấu trúc dưới đây:
– I prefer Verb-ing to/ rather than Verb-ing
– I prefer to verb rather than verb
– Something is a better choice for me in comparison with something else.
- Compare the two things the examiner mentions.
Bước 2: So sánh hai vật thể được đề cập đến trong câu hỏi (kèm lý do hoặc ví dụ)
– X + be + (adv) comparative + than + Y
– X be + not as + adjective + as Y
Note: – Chìa khóa của dạng câu hỏi này đó là bạn cần phải so sánh được sự giống/ khác nhau giữa biến thể X và Y. Các yếu tố so sánh giữa X và Y vẫn có thể là về sức khoẻ/ tiền bạc/ thời gian /… giống như các dạng câu hỏi trước.
– Mỗi câu nên có chứa hai đặc điểm so sánh giữa X và Y
3. Give reasons and examples to explain why.
Language steps
- Master prefer + verb-ing
I prefer walking,
and prefer + to verb,
I prefer to walk. - Use comparatives of convenience or greater benefit like a native speaker. Travelling by bus is faster than going by car.
Native speaker words
Let’s learn some native speaker words which are useful for answering this type of question.
These words can also help you understand the model answers on the next page more thoroughly.
| Native Speaker Word | Part of Speech | Definition | Example Sentence |
| convenient | adjective | fitting in well with a person’s needs or plans | Is it convenient for you to meet Friday afternoon? |
| actually | adverb | in fact; really (usually used before a slightly surprising statement) | Many people think that philosophy is really boring, but it’s actually quite fascinating when you start finding out about it |
| get stuck | to get into a situation when you cannot move easily (It can be used in an abstract or a specific situation. It is often used when you cannot move in a traffic jam.) | We got stuck in traffic for hours and so we missed our plane | |
| traffic jam | a lot of vehicles very close together so that they cannot move | Traffic jams are usually just caused by the amount of cars on the road, rather than by accidents. This is why there are always traffic jams during rush hour. | |
| means of transport | all the different types of transport: cars, buses, trains, the subway, planes, etc., | Although a car is probably the most popular means of transport, it is not very suitable for modern life in cities, where they are expensive and there is not enough space to drive them. | |
| smiley | noun | a small image used in chat rooms online by users to indicate different emotions (it can also be sent by mobile phone or email. Example: @) | Whenever I make a joke about somebody while I am on the Internet and I worry that somebody might get angry, I just put a smiley at the end of my message to show I was only joking. |
| online | adjective/ adverb | on the Internet | I won’t let my child surf the Web; there are too many dangerous and dirty things online |
| sociable | adjective | describing somebody who likes meeting new people or spending time with people | Mark isn’t a very sociable person at all; he hardly ever goes out to have fun and spends all his time alone in his room playing computer games. |
Model answers
Read the model answers from the two IELTS candidates, Alice and David.
Interviewer: Do you prefer to travel by bike or by bus?
Alice: I prefer cycling to travelling by bus. Cycling is so much more convenient than taking the bus if you’re not travelling too far. Actually, it’s often faster to go by bike because you don’t get stuck in traffic jams! Cycling is also better for my health than all other means of transport, including buses.
Interviewer: Do you prefer chatting online or talking on the phone?
David: Generally, I prefer chatting online. I nearly always find that chatting online can be more sociable as you can speak to more than one person at the same time. Also, chatting online is often much more fun because you can send smileys, photos and even videos!
Language step 1 Prefer
Let’s look at how the two IELTS candidates, Alice and David, use the verb prefer.
Alice: I prefer cycling to travelling by bus…
David: Generally, I prefer chatting online…
Obviously, the first thing you need to tell the examiner for this type of question is whether you prefer X or Y. Prefer can be followed by either verb-ing or to verb.
Notice in the examples below that prefer + verb-ing can be followed by either to or rather than, but prefer + to verb can only be followed by rather than.
prefer + verb-ing + to /rather than + verb-ing
I prefer cycling to taking the bus.
I prefer eating to cooking.
I prefer baking cakes at home rather than buying them in shops.
I prefer reading a newspaper rather than watching TV.
prefer + to verb + rather than + verb
I prefer to cycle rather than take the bus.
I prefer to eat rather than cook,
I prefer to bake cakes at home rather than buy them in shops.
I prefer to read a newspaper rather than watch TV.
Both these forms are correct, and mean exactly the same.
Exercise 1.1: Error Correction
Some of the sentences below are incorrect, some are correct. Identify the incorrect sentences and write the correct sentences in the spaces provided.
1. I prefer to go to the cinema to watch DVDs at home.
2. My sister prefers writing letters to write emails.
3. I prefer to talk with friends on the phone rather than using emails.
4. I much prefer to live in a town rather than a big city.
5. My mother prefers shopping at the market more than in supermarkets.
6. My friends generally prefer to send text messages to talking on the phone.
Cars are prettier than buses.
Language step 2 Comparatives
Let’s look again at how the two IELTS candidates, Alice and David, use the comparatives.
Alice: …Cycling is so much more convenient than taking the bus if you’re not travelling too far. Actually, it’s often faster to go by bike because you don’t get stuck in traffic jams! Cycling is also better for my health than all other means of transport, including buses.
David: …I nearly always find that chatting online can be more sociable as you can speak to more than one person at the same time. Also, chatting online is often much more fun because you can send smileys, photos and even videos!
After you have told the examiner whether you prefer X or Y, you should compare them, so it’s very important to use comparatives correctly.
To form the comparative of an adjective, you should:
add –er if the adjective is one syllable long.
add –ier if the adjective has two syllables and ends in -y.
add more before the adjective if it has two or more syllables.
Look at the table below to see how these rules work.
| Short Adjectives | Adjectives ending in (y) | Long Adjectives | |||
| Adjective | Comparative Form | Adjective | Comparative Form | Adjective | Comparative Form |
| cheap | cheaper | easy | easier | expensive | more expensive |
| large | larger | heavy | heavier | comfortable | more comfortable |
| fast | faster | pretty | prettier | fashionable | more fashionable |
| slow | slower | ugly | uglier | useful | more useful |
Hint:These following adjectives have irregular forms of comparative.
good = bette bad = worse far = more far
To emphasise the comparative, add much before the comparative form.
For example: …much more convenient
When you compare ( X ) and ( Y), you should use one of the following comparative structures:
( X + be + comparative + than + Y)
Watching TV is more interesting than listening to the radio.
X + be + not as + adjective + as + Y
Listening to the radio is not as interesting as watching TV.
Buses are not as pretty as cars.
Exercise 1.2: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct answers to complete the sentences below.
1. My mother prefers to eat at home rather than eat in restaurants because she says it’s ______ for one’s health.
A. more better B. best C. better
2. I think that I prefer student life to working life because we are allowed to be ______ in our attitude and express ourselves more.
A. more creativity B. more creative C. creativer
3. Most people prefer taking the airport express light railway to taking a taxi to the airport because it is ______.
A. much quicker B. more quick C. more quicker
4. I prefer to go to parties with friends rather than with family – partying with friends is so much ______ because I can drink wine and let my hair down!
A. exciting B. excitinger C. more exciting
5. To be honest, I prefer travelling to work by bus rather than by foot because it’s ______.
A. easier B. more easy C. more easier
6. I don’t like taking the subway – it’s definitely ______ as the bus.
A. more comfortable than B. less comfortable C. not as comfortable
7. For me, sending text messages is ______ sending emails.
A. funner than B. more fun than C. not as fun
8. I prefer studying to working because I feel ______ and ______ when I study.
A. freer; more independent
B. more free; more independent
C. freer; independent
Extra language point Discourse Markers
Let’s take a look at how the two IELTS candidates, Alice and David, use discourse markers in their answers.
Alice …Cycling is so much more convenient than taking the bus if you’re not travelling too far. Actually, it’s often faster to go by bike because…
David …I nearly always find that chatting online can be more sociable as you can speak to more than one person at the same time. Also, chatting online is often much more fun because…
One reason why Alice’s and David’s answers are so good is that both candidates put extra little words (called discourse markers) into their answers in a very native way.
Try to use the following words and expressions more often when you speak English, as they will help make you sound more like a native speaker:
actually /in fact
Actually and in fact are very often used by native speakers to introduce something that may be surprising or that slightly changes what was being said before.
It is actually a lot cheaper to go to that supermarket.
In fact, public buses are a lot more environmentally friendly than many people think.
needless to say
Needless to say is another way of saying obviously or everybody knows that… without sounding rude or arrogant.
I like eating lots of cakes, but needless to say, that will make me fat.
He’s done very badly in his exams, so needless to say, he won’t get into university this year.
also/in addition
Also and in addition are used to add extra or further information.
I’m a very sociable person. I prefer team sports such as basketball and football and in addition, I like going to English club with my friends.
I prefer cycling rather than driving a car because it helps me keep fit; in addition, it’s better for the environment and it’s also cheaper!
besides
Besides at the beginning of a phrase means as well as, whereas at the beginning of a clause it means anyway.
Besides watching TV and talking to my friends, I can relax while travelling on the subway.
I like riding a bike as it’s a very convenient way to travel. Besides, it’s cheap and I can’t afford a car.
Exercise 1.3: Gap Fill
Write the words and expressions below in the correct spaces.
In fact also needless to say besides actually in addition to
1. ______, writing emails is a lot cheaper than mailing letters.
2. I prefer to eat at home rather than eat in restaurants.
3. Writing letters is a more personal way to communicate. ______, I like writing by hand.
4. I prefer watching TV to going to the cinema because ______ being cheaper, it’s ______ more comfortable.
5. Many people think it’s dangerous to travel by aeroplane but ______, it’s probably the safest means of transport available.
Answer key
Error Correction
1. I prefer to go to the cinema rather than watch DVDs at home.
2. My sister prefers writing letters to writing emails.
3. I prefer to talk with friends on the phone rather than use emails.
4. Correct
5. My mother prefers shopping at the market rather than in supermarkets.
6. My friends generally prefer to send text messages rather than talk on the phone.
Multiple Choice
1. C 2. B 3. A 4. C 5. A 6. C 7. B 8. A
Gap Fill
1. Needless to say 2. actually 3. Besides 4. in addition to; also 5. in fact
Một số câu hỏi luyện tập
1. Do you prefer comfortable shoes or fashionable shoes?
2. Do you prefer going to the cinema or watching DVDs at home?
3. Do you prefer talking with friends on the phone or face-to-face communication?
4. Do you prefer living in a town or living in a big city?
5. Do you prefer shopping at the market or shopping in the supermarkets?
6. Do you prefer travelling with friends or alone?
7. Do you prefer to drink hot water or cool water?
8. Do you prefer using paper dictionaries or electronic dictionaries?
9. Do you prefer to study in the morning or in the evening?
10. Do you prefer to go to crowded places or places that have few people?
