Use prefer or would rather to explain a choice, the present simple to describe a current habit, and used to for a past habit or state that has changed. For example: “I prefer walking to driving. I usually walk to work, but I used to take the bus.”
Five-minute practice: learn the patterns, correct six sentences, then write two sentences about your own routine.
Preferences: choose the right verb pattern
- Prefer A to B: “I prefer tea to coffee.” For activities, keep the forms parallel: “I prefer cooking to ordering food.”
- Prefer to + verb: “I prefer to cook at home.” To compare actions, use rather than: “I prefer to cook rather than order food.”
- Would prefer to + verb: “I’d prefer to eat later.” This is useful for a choice in a particular situation.
- Would rather + base verb: “I’d rather eat now than wait.” Do not add to or -ing after would rather when the same person performs the action.
Enjoy is different from like: use enjoy + -ing for an activity: “I enjoy reading.” Say “I like reading” or “I like to read,” but not “I enjoy to read.” Learning one pattern for like does not make that pattern correct after every verb about preferences.
Habits: say what happens regularly
Use the present simple for a current routine: “I read before bed.” With he, she or it, remember the verb ending: “She reads before bed.” In questions and negatives, use do/does and the base verb: “Does she read every night?” “She doesn’t read on the bus.”
Usually, often and sometimes are adverbs of frequency, not auxiliary verbs. A useful starting pattern puts them before the main verb: “I usually read at night.” With be, put the adverb after it: “I am usually tired.” Some frequency adverbs can move: “Sometimes I read at lunch” is also natural.
Used to do or be used to doing?
- Used to + base verb describes a past habit or state that is no longer true: “I used to work evenings, but now I work mornings.”
- Didn’t use to + base verb: “I didn’t use to drink tea.” After didn’t, write use, without the final d.
- Be used to + noun or -ing means being accustomed to something: “I’m used to early starts.” “I’m used to getting up early.” It does not mean that the activity has stopped.
For repeated past actions in a story, would can also work: “Every Friday, we would walk to the library.” Use used to for a past state such as “We used to live near the library.”
Correct these six sentences
Each sentence has one target error. Write your corrections before opening the answers.
- I enjoy to swim after work.
- I prefer walking than driving.
- I’d rather to stay home tonight.
- She usually take the bus.
- I didn’t used to like coffee.
- I’m used to wake up early.
Check the answers and explanations
- I enjoy swimming after work. Use the -ing form after enjoy.
- I prefer walking to driving. Compare these two activities with prefer … to ….
- I’d rather stay home tonight. The same-subject pattern takes the base verb without to.
- She usually takes the bus. She needs takes in this affirmative present-simple sentence.
- I didn’t use to like coffee. After didn’t, use use to.
- I’m used to waking up early. Here to is followed by the -ing form because the meaning is “accustomed to.”
Use it in your own conversation
Complete: “I prefer ___ to ___.” Then add a real routine: “I usually ___, but I used to ___.” A preference describes what you would choose; a habit describes what you actually do. They do not have to match: “I prefer walking, but I usually drive because work is far away.”
Next, practise time expressions in the In, At and On lesson, or choose another topic from the grammar lesson directory.
Grammar references
Check the patterns in Cambridge’s guides to prefer and enjoy, the British Council’s frequency-adverb guide and past-habits guide, and Cambridge’s explanation of used to versus be used to. The practice sentences above were written for this lesson.
