To-infinitive forms in American English are much more frequent than the -ing form. The meaning between these two forms is slightly different. The to-infinitive is used to express on habits or preferences and the gerund or -ing form is used to talk about enjoyment or lack of it. Let's see the following examples.
- I like to swim. ( The speaker focuses on the action of swimming.)
- I like swimming. ( The speaker expresses his or her general preference or enjoyment of swimming.
Most of the time there is no difference between using the to-infinitive and the -ing form for the following verbs: hate, like, love, prefer.
Example
- I hate getting up early in the morning.
- She like painting pictures.
- They loving playing soccer on the weekends.
- He prefer drinking coffee to tea.
Expressing preferences
Specific preference
[Would rather + infinitive …..]
* would rather = 'd (want to)
- She’d rather present her work today.
- They’d rather play soccer this evening.
- We’d rather finish our work by 5 this evening.
[ Would prefer + to infinitive + …..]
- I’d prefer to stay at home today.
- She’d prefer to stay single.
- We’d prefer to eat out this evening.
Preference of one thing over another
[Would rather + infinitive + than + infinitive ………..]
- I’d rather drink coffee than energy drink.
- We’d rather stay at home than go out this weekend.
- He’d rather fly than drive.
[Would prefer + to infinitive + rather than + infinitive……..]
- I’d prefer to stay home rather than go out today.
- She’d prefer to stay single rather than get married with the wrong man .
- We’d prefer to eat out rather than eat in this evening.
Action we wish somebody to take ( future or present)
[ Would rather + sub + v-ed …………]
- I'd rather go by bus. ( I will go by bus)
- I'd rather he went by bus. (He will not go by bus.) (meaning: present)
- He wants to be a teacher but I'd rather he became a doctor.
- I would rather (that) you stayed at home. (but you will go out)
- My father would rather I lived in Istanbul. (I am living in Paris now.)
- I'd rather you didn't smoke in the car. (you are smoking in the car.)
- I like coffee.
- I like drinking coffee.
- They like swimming.
- She likes drawing pictures in her free time.
- He likes tea.
