Meaning
「I prefer」は、何かを他のものよりも好むことを表現する際に使われる英語の表現です。日本語では「私は〜の方が好きです」や「私は〜をより好みます」といった意味になります。
この表現を使うことで、選択肢の中から自分の好みを明確に伝えることができます。例えば、「I prefer coffee to tea.」と言えば、「私は紅茶よりもコーヒーの方が好きです」という意味になります。ここで、どちらか一方を選ぶ必要がある状況でも、「I prefer」を使うことで自分の選好を示すことができます。
「I prefer」は日常会話だけでなく、ビジネスの場面でもよく使われます。例えば、新しいプロジェクトの提案について話し合う際に、「I prefer the second option because it is more cost-effective.」と言えば、「私は2つ目の選択肢の方がコスト面で効果的なので好ましいです」という、理由を含めた好みを伝えることができます。
このように、「I prefer」は個人の好みを明確にするための便利な表現です。強調したいポイントがある場合は「I strongly prefer」などとアレンジすることも可能です。
Today's Sentences
- I prefer coffee to tea.
- I prefer yoga to pilates.
- I prefer small groups to large ones.
- I prefer dark clothing to light clothing.
- I prefer working alone to working with others.
- Writer's Note
01
I prefer coffee to tea.
Situation 1
May I get you something to drink?
Do you have any hot drinks on the menu?
For hot beverages we have coffee and tea.
I prefer coffee to tea.
I’ll have mine black please.
ブラックでお願いします。
Situation 2
It's getting chilly.
I feel like drinking something warm.
温かいものが飲みたい気分です。
I can brew up some coffee or tea for you?
I prefer coffee to tea, please.
No problem.
I’ll have a hot cup of coffee ready for you in a few minutes.
数分で熱いコーヒーをご用意しますね。
02
I prefer yoga to pilates.
Situation 1
I love your yoga pants.
Thanks!
Are you taking the yoga or pilates class?
I prefer yoga to pilates.
I’m here for the Ashtanga Morning class.
私はアシュタンガの朝のクラスを受けに来ました。
Situation 2
I’ve tried everything from running to boxing and I still feel stressed out.
Have you tried yoga or pilates?
No, I haven’t.
What would you suggest?
何を勧めますか？
I prefer yoga to pilates.
Yoga incorporates meditation which may reduce stress.
ヨガは瞑想を取り入れており、ストレスを軽減するかもしれません。
03
I prefer small groups to large ones.
Situation 1
Did you have fun at the party?
Well, I prefer small groups to large ones.
So I had more fun when I found someone to talk to.
だから、誰かと話す相手を見つけたときの方が楽しかったです。
I understand.
I’m like that too.
私もそうです。
It always feels like it’s an extroverts world.
Situation 2
Is everything ok?
You seem really quiet.
とても静かに見えますね。
I’m fine.
I just prefer small groups to large ones.
ただ、大人数よりも少人数のグループを好みます。
I’m sorry.
I didn’t know.
知りませんでした。
That’s ok.
You can’t avoid large crowds all the time.
常に大勢の人ごみを避けることはできません。
04
I prefer dark clothing to light clothing.
Situation 1
I see you wear a lot of black shirts.
I prefer dark clothing to light clothing.
My boyfriend thinks the same.
He says he doesn’t want to spend energy deciding on what color shirt to wear.
彼はどの色のシャツを着るか決めるのにエネルギーを使いたくないと言っています。
Seems like your boyfriend and I are on the same page.
Situation 2
What are you wearing to the wedding?
I prefer dark clothing to light clothing.
Especially in the winter months.
特に冬の時期には。
Ok, I’ll wear a black dress to match then.
I never understand why some people wear white to someone else’s wedding.
05
I prefer working alone to working with others.
Situation 1
Our team lead was impressed with your background.
Thank you.
We’d like to offer you a position where you can choose to work remotely or in an open office setting.
I prefer working alone to working with others.
Situation 2
I see so many of my colleagues working from home nowadays.
The pandemic really changed the rules of going into the office to work.
How about you?
I prefer working alone to working with others as well.
Writer's Note
In the examples above, we learned how to use "I prefer" noun "to" noun. You can also use "'d prefer", followed by a to-infinitive or a noun, to talk about present and future preferences.
- I'd prefer the apple pie.
- We'd prefer to drink non-alcoholic beverages.
- She'd prefer to spend the day outdoors.
- He'd prefer a seat closer to the window, please.
- Would you prefer to drive?
We can introduce the second thing with "rather than", followed by an infinitive without to.
- I'd prefer the apple pie rather than the chocolate lava cake.
- We'd prefer the drink non-alcoholic rather than alcoholic beverages.
- She'd prefer to spend the day outdoors rather than stay indoors.
- He'd prefer a seat closer to the window rather than an aisle seat.
- Would you prefer to drive rather than walk?
I can't believe we've reached Week 16 together! Thanks for following and studying with us on this long journey. Your efforts are worth gold! 😎👌🔥 Keep it up!
