TODAYS TIPS !

Expressing Preferences We often use words like prefer, would prefer, would rather to talk or ask about preferences. "I prefer living on my own." "Would you prefer to see a movie or go to a club?" "Would you rather go shopping with me?" Those expressions are quite different in meaning and this is why learners of English often find them challenging. So here is how we can separate them: Difference in meaning: We tend to use 'prefer' to talk generally about likes, dislikes, what we want. He prefers reading books. I prefer going to the beach than going to a swimming pool. The expressions 'would prefer' and 'would rather', to be a little more specific. I would prefer to see him in person. I would rather go home now. Difference in form: Followed by a different verb form: I prefer living in a city. (followed by the gerund; the '-ing' ending) I would prefer to be told the truth. (followed by the infinitive; to+ the verb) Would you rather stay at a hotel? (followed by the base form of the verb; the verb without 'to'. Different prepositions to state the choice.

prefer, would prefer go with 'to' I'd prefer living in a city to living in the country. I would (I'd) prefer being alone to being with the wrong person. would rather goes with 'than' I would (I'd) rather talk to him in person than call him on the phone. You can check your understanding as you match the questions below with suitable endings: Would you prefer ...? Would you rather ....? taking a nap or going for a walk a trip to Jamaica or a cruise to Alaska watch a talk show or see a movie to stay at home or go outside with friends

Expressing Regrets The Difference in Meaning Between Regret to Do Something and Regret Doing Something What's the difference between I regret to tell you that your daughter committed suicide and I regret telling you that your daughter committed suicide. Well, I regret to tell, I regret to say are used to inform someone of some bad news in a polite way. Before you tell someone bad news, it's polite to warn the person that he's about to get some bad news by telling him you feel sorry about it. Regret too must be followed by a verb which means say, for example, tell, inform, announce, report, verbs that do not have this meaning On the other hand, regret doing something means you wish you had not done something. So I regret telling you that your daughter killed herself means you wish you had not told someone his daughter committed suicide. Maybe because after hearing the bad news, he tried to kill himself or maybe because it was a mistake that his daughter had not actually died. So if you have to tell someone bad news, say I regret to tell you. But if you wish you had not done something, say I regret doing

it. And if you are glad that you did something, say I don't regret doing it.

WANT TO : PROPOSITION INFINITIVE Voir feuille annexe