English - Prefer and Rather

You can use "prefer to (do)" or "prefer -ing" to say what you prefer in general:
• I don't like cities. I prefer to live in the country OR I prefer livingin the country.
Study the differences in structure after prefer. We say:
I prefer something to something else.
I prefer to do something rather than (do) something else.
I prefer doing something to doing something else.
• I prefer this coat to the coat you were wearing yesterday.
• I prefer driving to traveling by train.but
• I prefer to drive rather than travel by train.
• Ann prefers to live in the country rather than (live) in a city.

Would prefer (I'd prefer...)
We use "would prefer" to say what somebody wants in a particular situation (not in general):
• "Would you prefer tea or coffee" "Coffee, please."
We say "would prefer to do" (not "doing"):
• "Shall we go by train?" "Well, I'd prefer to go by car. (not "I'd prefer going")
• I'd prefer to stay at home tonight rather than go to the cinema.
Would rather (I'd rather...)
Would rather (do) = would prefer (to do). After would rather we use the infinitive without to.
Compare:
• "Shall we go by train?"
"I'd prefer to go by car."
"I'd rather go by car. (not to go)
• "Would you rather have tea or coffee" "Coffee, please."
The negative is "I'd rather not (do something)":
• I'm tired. I'd rather not go out this evening, if you don't mind.
• "Do you want to go out this evening" "I'd rather not."
Study the structure after would rather:
I'd rather do something than (do) something else.
• I'd rather stay at home tonight than go to the cinema.
I'd rather you did something
When you want somebody to do something, you can say "I'd rather you did something":
• "Shall I stay here?" "I'd rather you came with us.
"• "Shall I tell them the news?" "No. I'd rather they didn't know.
"• "Shall I tell them or would you rather they didn't know?"
In this structure we use the past (came, did etc.), but the meaning is present or future, not past.Compare:
• I'd rather cook the dinner now.
but
• I'd rather you cooked the dinner now. (not "I'd rather you cook")
The negative is "I'd rather you didn't..."
:• I'd rather you didn't tell anyone what I said.
• "Do you mind if I smoke?" "I'd rather you didn't."

Retrieved on 10th February 2009. http://www.eslmonster.com/article/prefer-and-would-rather