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Head, heart, hands and health: prefer, would rather and would prefer

This B1 ESL lesson plan teaches would rather, prefer and would prefer for choices, with 4-H, the youth program where young people learn by doing.

Grammar
Prefer + noun or -ing + to for likes in general, would rather + base form (+ than) and would prefer to for one choice, with questions and a polite no.
Topic
4-H, from A.B. Graham's 1902 club in Clark County, Ohio, to today's projects, with county fair words such as groom, barn and funnel cake.
Activities
Episode notes to read, a goat show and a listener's message to hear, self-checking drills, a chat that plans a day at the fair and open boxes.

What's inside

  1. Chapter 1Warm-up: clubs, skills and county fairs

    • PictureUnlock
    • Spin the wheel and answerSpin the wheelUnlock
    • Study the words: 4-H and the county fairVocabularyTry it
    • Look at the pictures and choose the wordChoose by pictureUnlock

  2. Chapter 2Let's read: learning by doing since 1902

    • Look at the picture: a club garden in the early 1900sPictureUnlock
    • Read the episode notesArticleUnlock
    • Read and mark true or falseTrue or falseUnlock
    • Read again and choose the correct answerQuizUnlock

  3. Chapter 3Let's listen: goats, pies and robots

    • Listen to Jade and DariusListeningTry it
    • Transcript, for the teacherUnlock
    • Listen and choose the correct answerQuizUnlock
    • Listen to the Listener's Take: Marlene's messageListeningUnlock
    • Transcript, for the teacherUnlock
    • Listen and mark true or falseTrue or falseUnlock

  4. Chapter 4Grammar: I'd rather judge the pies!

    • Study the scheme: prefer, would rather, would preferGrammar schemeTry it
    • Choose the correct optionChoose the optionUnlock
    • Fill in the gaps: add to or than if you need itFill in the gapsTry it
    • Fill in the table: prefer … to … and would rather … than …Fill in the tableUnlock
    • Choose the correct answer: which sentence is correct?QuizUnlock

  5. Chapter 5Let's talk: would you rather…?

    • Choose the right replies: plan a day at the county fairChatTry it
    • Open a box and answerOpen the boxUnlock

  6. Chapter 6Homework

    • Match the words and the meaningsMatchUnlock
    • Unscramble the wordsAnagramUnlock
    • Fill in the gaps with the lesson's wordsFill in the gapsUnlock
    • Find the matching pairs: words and meaningsMemory gameUnlock
    • Choose the correct option: new sentencesChoose the optionUnlock
    • Fill in the gaps: new sentences, with to or than if you need itFill in the gapsUnlock
    • Put the words in the correct orderUnjumbleUnlock
    • Choose the correct answer: which sentence means the same?QuizUnlock
    • Choose the correct option: the county fair programChoose the optionUnlock
    • Drag the words into the gaps: the hosts answer MarleneDrag and dropUnlock

31 exercises in 6 chapters. Start a 7-day free trial to open all of them, copy any part into your own lessons, and teach the lesson live.

Vocabulary

12 words and phrases from the lesson, each with a picture and audio in edio.

+9 more with pictures and audio in the lessonMore words

  • skill
  • hands-on
  • goat
  • barn
  • clover
  • emblem
  • hustle
  • coding
  • funnel cake

Grammar: prefer, would rather and would prefer

All three forms say what you like more, but each one takes a different verb form. Prefer is for likes in general and puts to before the second thing; would rather and would prefer are for one choice, now or in an imagined situation. A county fair, with goats, pies and robots, gives students plenty to choose between.

I prefer…, I'd rather…, I'd prefer…

Say what you like more: prefer for things in general, would rather and would prefer for one choice, now or in an imagined situation.

Three forms, three patterns

Prefer + noun or -ing + to: I prefer cooking to sewing. Would rather + base form: I'd rather raise a calf. Would prefer + to + base form: I'd prefer to see the robots. Only prefer changes for he, she and it: He prefers eating to cooking.

Three ways to say what you like more

FormWhat comes nextExample
prefernoun / -ing + to + noun / -ingI prefer cooking to sewing.
would rather ('d rather)base form (+ than + base form)I'd rather raise a calf than build a robot.
would prefer ('d prefer)to + base form, or a nounI'd prefer to see the robots. I'd prefer the robots.

Every person

Personpreferwould ratherwould prefer
II prefer goats to pigs.I'd rather show a goat.I'd prefer to show a goat.
youYou prefer baking to sewing.You'd rather bake.You'd prefer to bake.
heHe prefers eating to cooking.He'd rather eat.He'd prefer to eat.
sheShe prefers robots to rockets.She'd rather build a robot.She'd prefer to build a robot.
it (the goat)It prefers apples to hay.It would rather sleep.It would prefer to sleep.
weWe prefer the barn to the tent.We'd rather stay here.We'd prefer to stay here.
theyThey prefer coding to knitting.They'd rather code.They'd prefer to code.

To after prefer, than after would rather

After prefer, the second thing follows to: I prefer cooking to sewing, not than sewing. After would rather, it follows than + base form: I'd rather cook than sew. For one activity, prefer to + base form works too: I prefer to cook.

prefer … to …, would rather … than …

After prefer, the second thing comes after to: I prefer cooking to sewing (not: than sewing). Use the same kind of word on both sides: -ing to -ing, a noun to a noun. After would rather, use than + base form: I'd rather cook than sew. For one activity, prefer + to + base form is right too: I prefer to cook.

No to after rather, to after would prefer

Would rather takes the base form with no to: I'd rather raise a calf, not I'd rather to raise. Would prefer needs to: I'd prefer to build a robot. Keep the 'd in both: I'd rather go, never I rather go.

No to after rather, to after prefer

would rather + base form, with no to: I'd rather raise a calf (not: I'd rather to raise, not: I'd rather raising). would prefer + to + base form: I'd prefer to build a robot (not: I'd prefer build). Don't forget 'd (= would): I'd rather go (not: I rather go).

Questions and a polite no

Choice questions use or: Would you rather show a goat or bake a pie? Would you prefer to see the robots or the rabbits? Do you prefer goats or pigs? A polite no is I'd rather not, or I'd prefer not to, with or without a verb.

Questions

Would you rather + base form … or …?Would you prefer + to + base form … or …?Do you prefer … or …?

Would you rather show a goat or bake a pie?

Would you prefer to see the robots or the rabbits?

Do you prefer goats or pigs? Does Darius prefer pies or cookies?

Say no politely

I'd rather not. I'd prefer not to. You can add the verb: I'd rather not sing. I'd prefer not to sing. Not: I'd rather to not, not: I'd rather don't.

Choices at the county fair

The examples come from the fair: Jade would rather show a goat than bake a pie. Darius would rather judge the pies than bake them. After than, the second verb is a base form too: bake them, not baking them.

  • Darius prefers eating to cooking.
  • Jade would rather show a goat than bake a pie.
  • Darius would rather judge the pies than bake them.
  • Jade would prefer to see the robotics tent next.
  • Next year, Marlene would prefer to build a robot.
  • Marlene: “Would you rather groom a goat for an hour or bake twenty pies?”

Common mistakes

  • I'd rather to raise a calf.

    I'd rather raise a calf.

    no to after would rather

  • I prefer cooking than sewing.

    I prefer cooking to sewing.

    prefer … to …

  • I'd prefer raise a goat.

    I'd prefer to raise a goat.

    would prefer + to

  • I rather go home.

    I'd rather go home.

    don't forget 'd (would)

More lessons on this grammar: Gerunds and infinitives lessons and exercises

Try the would rather exercises

Try them yourself: these are the same exercises your students do in edio.

More exercises

What's in the lesson

  • 17 auto-checked exercises
  • 5 games
  • 1 article
  • 1 grammar scheme
  • 1 set of word cards
  • 2 audio clips
  • 2 pictures
  • 2 transcripts

The main objectives of this lesson are to:

  • say what they like more in general: I prefer cooking to sewing. Darius prefers eating to cooking.
  • make one choice with would rather + base form: I'd rather raise a calf than build a robot. I'd rather show a goat.
  • use would prefer to + base form: Jade would prefer to see the robotics tent next. Next year, Marlene would prefer to build a robot.
  • ask choice questions and say no politely: Would you rather show a goat or bake a pie? No, thanks. I'd rather not.

Lesson 28 closes Volunteers and changemakers, unit 7 of English B1.2 · Changemakers. It builds on lessons 25 to 27, which sorted verbs by -ing and to, and on the second conditional of lessons 1 and 2, where would described imagined situations. Lesson 29 opens the last unit with the possessive 's and of. A fair where young people pick their own projects, from goats to robots, is a natural place to talk about what they would rather do.

Students spin a wheel of questions about clubs, skills and fairs, then learn twelve words, from raise and groom to funnel cake, with pictures and audio. They read the episode notes on 4-H, from A.B. Graham's club to the fourth H that was almost Hustle, then hear Jade and Darius at a county fair in Missouri and a message from Marlene, a 4-H member in Ohio, both AI-voiced. The grammar chapter has the scheme and four self-checking drills, among them a table that says each choice both ways. In the speaking chapter, students plan a day at the fair in Laurel's chat, then open boxes of Would you rather…? questions.

All ten homework tasks check themselves: a word match, an anagram, a word gap-fill and a memory game, then a choice of forms, gaps with to or than, word order, a same-meaning quiz, a county fair program with gaps and the hosts' answers to Marlene.

Grammar:
prefer · would rather · would prefer · Would you rather…? · prefer … to … · would rather … than …
Topic:
4-H · A.B. Graham · Clark County, Ohio · county fairs · clubs for young people · hands-on learning · volunteers and changemakers · Stories That Travel

Teaching tips

  • Warm up with quick Would you rather…? pairs, such as a goat or a robot? and pie or funnel cake? Students answer in a full sentence starting I'd rather…, then add one reason.
  • Before the notes, ask what the four H's stand for. Students guess, then read to check, and the notes add a surprise: the fourth H was almost Hustle.
  • Play the fair dialogue twice: first for who wants what, then for each to and than. Students say which word came after prefer and which came after would rather.
  • End with Marlene's question: in pairs, students answer Would you rather groom a goat for an hour or bake twenty pies?, then make up one question of their own for the class.

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The whole course: English B1.2 · Changemakers

32 lessons for adults at B1 in American English, about people and ideas that changed things: start-ups, future cities, food, memory, customs, art, volunteers and adventure. The podcast team of English B1.1 is back for a season called Changemakers. Learners use the second conditional, the passive, reported speech, the past perfect, relative clauses and verb patterns, and the practice exercises check themselves.See the course

  1. Unit 1 Start-up stories

    the second conditional, If I were you, the first vs the second conditional, also, too, as well and besides

    1. Lesson 1The garage where Silicon Valley beganThe second conditional for imagined situations
    2. Lesson 2Would you sell lemonade to save bees?Second conditional questions and If I were you
    3. Lesson 3Pitch it to the Sharks!First vs second conditional: a real plan or a dream?
    4. Lesson 4A bakery that hires anyone?Adding ideas: also, too, as well, either and besides

  2. Unit 2 Cities of tomorrow

    the passive in the present simple and the past simple, with modals, and in the present perfect and present continuous

    1. Lesson 5Can you cross a city without going outside?The present simple passive
    2. Lesson 6A park on top of a freeway?The past simple passive
    3. Lesson 7Can a desert city catch the rain?The passive with modals
    4. Lesson 8Can an old railroad become a park?The present perfect and present continuous passive

  3. Unit 3 Food for the future

    comparative and superlative adverbs, the future passive, verbs with prepositions, phrasal verbs with up, away and out

    1. Lesson 9Why did Carver tell farmers to plant peanuts?Comparative and superlative adverbs
    2. Lesson 10Lettuce from space?The future passive with will be
    3. Lesson 11Why do corn, beans and squash grow together?Verbs with dependent prepositions
    4. Lesson 12What happens to dining-hall leftovers?Phrasal verbs with up, away and out

  4. Unit 4 Memory and learning

    reported statements with say and tell, tense changes, time and place words, reported questions, requests and commands

    1. Lesson 13Can you train your memory?Reported statements with say and tell
    2. Lesson 14He got better but never rememberedReported statements about the past
    3. Lesson 15Can a TV show teach the alphabet?Reported questions
    4. Lesson 16Can you learn a new skill at 70?Reported requests and commands

  5. Unit 5 Customs and manners

    degree adverbs such as quite and pretty, the past perfect, the past perfect vs the past simple, make vs do

    1. Lesson 17To tip or not to tip?Adverbs of degree before adjectives and adverbs
    2. Lesson 18They'd already started without me!The past perfect: had + past participle
    3. Lesson 19What should you do at a powwow?Past perfect vs past simple
    4. Lesson 20How do you accept a lei?Make vs do: collocations to learn

  6. Unit 6 Art and design

    relative clauses with whose, non-defining relative clauses, relative clauses without a pronoun, when and why

    1. Lesson 21Art that moves in the airRelative clauses with whose
    2. Lesson 22A heart that sells a stateNon-defining relative clauses
    3. Lesson 23What would you paint on a city wall?Relative clauses without who, which or that
    4. Lesson 24Why does the sign say Hollywood?Relative adverbs: when, why and where

  7. Unit 7 Volunteers and changemakers

    verb + -ing or to, -ing as a subject and after prepositions, stop, remember, try and forget, prefer and would rather

    1. Lesson 25A day on, not a day off?Verb + -ing or verb + to
    2. Lesson 26The house that welcomed a neighborhoodGerunds as subjects and after prepositions
    3. Lesson 27A walk that lasted 24 hoursStop, remember, forget and try + to or -ing
    4. Lesson 28 · you're hereHead, heart, hands and healthPrefer, would rather and would prefer

  8. Unit 8 Adventure and challenge

    possessive 's vs of, must and can't for deduction, might, may and could for possibility, the meanings of get

    1. Lesson 29Could you climb a fourteener?Possessive 's, s' or of
    2. Lesson 30It must be here somewhere!Must and can't for deduction
    3. Lesson 31How did Houdini get out?Might, may and could for possibility
    4. Lesson 32A capital with no road inThe meanings of get

Questions about this lesson

What does would rather mean?
Would rather means you would like one thing more than another, for one choice: I'd rather show a goat. With than, it also names what you don't choose: I'd rather raise a calf than build a robot. In speech, it's usually I'd rather. The B1 lesson Head, heart, hands and health on edio.ai teaches it at a county fair, beside prefer and would prefer.
How do you use would rather in a sentence?
Use would rather + the base form, with no to: We'd rather stay here. Add than + base form for the other choice: I'd rather cook than sew. For a negative, put not after rather: I'd rather not sing. Questions start with Would: Would you rather walk to the park or take the bus? It's the same for every person: He'd rather eat.
What's the difference between prefer and would rather?
Prefer is for what you like more in general: I prefer cooking to sewing. Would rather is for one choice, now or in an imagined situation: I'd rather judge the pies than bake them. The second thing follows to after prefer but than after would rather. A table in Head, heart, hands and health, a B1 lesson on edio.ai, says each choice both ways.
Is it "I'd rather go" or "I'd rather to go"?
It's I'd rather go, without to. Would rather takes the base form: I'd rather raise a calf, not I'd rather to raise or I'd rather raising. Don't drop the 'd either: I rather go is wrong. Would prefer is the one that needs to: I'd prefer to go. The chat in Head, heart, hands and health offers I'd rather to go as a wrong reply.
Is it "prefer to" or "prefer than"?
With two things, prefer takes to, not than: I prefer goats to rabbits, Darius prefers eating to cooking. Keep the same kind of word on both sides, -ing with -ing or a noun with a noun. Than belongs to would rather: I'd rather cook than sew. I prefer cooking than sewing is in the common-mistakes list of Head, heart, hands and health on edio.ai.
What is 4-H?
4-H is the youth program of the Cooperative Extension System and the US Department of Agriculture, where young people learn skills through hands-on projects. It grew from clubs for boys and girls that began in several states around 1900. One of the first started in January 1902 in Clark County, Ohio, when A.B. Graham, a school official, set up a club whose members grew corn, vegetables and flowers.
What do the four H's in 4-H stand for?
They stand for head, heart, hands and health. The fourth H was almost Hustle: the official 4-H history site says O.H. Benson of Iowa suggested it in 1911, while Health came from O.B. Martin and has been used ever since. The 4-H pledge, a promise about all four H's, was adopted in 1927. Today's projects range from farm animals and plants to robots and computer science.
How do I teach would rather and prefer to B1 students?
Teach prefer for general likes first, with true sentences about the class (I prefer tea to coffee), then bring in would rather for a choice right now. Put the two side by side and point out to and than. Head, heart, hands and health on edio.ai goes from episode notes and a fair dialogue to the scheme, four drills and a planning chat.
What's a good game for practicing would rather?
The classic is a round of Would you rather…? questions: each student asks one, such as Would you rather raise a goat or build a robot?, and the answer needs I'd rather… and a reason. The open boxes in Head, heart, hands and health do the same, and one box asks students to make up a question of their own.
What's good homework for prefer and would rather?
Try a same-meaning quiz that turns plain sentences into choices: I like goats more than pigs becomes I prefer goats to pigs. Add gaps where students decide whether to or than is needed. The ten homework tasks of Head, heart, hands and health on edio.ai check themselves, from a word match to a county fair program and the hosts' answers to Marlene.
How do you practice would rather one-to-one?
Plan an outing together, one choice at a time: the teacher asks Would you rather go in the morning or in the afternoon? and Do you prefer goats or rabbits?, and the student answers, then asks back. The chat in Head, heart, hands and health on edio.ai works without a partner: the student plans a day at a county fair with Laurel.
Are there interactive exercises for would rather?
Yes: gap-fills and a chat that mark each answer at once. With no sign-up, this page plays three parts of Head, heart, hands and health, a B1 lesson on edio.ai: Jade and Darius at the county fair, a gap-fill that asks whether to or than is needed, and Laurel's chat about a day at the fair. The other chapters need an account.
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