Lesson 1

personal qualities

[wptb id=8802]

By + gerund

by + gerund to describe how to do things

• You can improve your English by listening to podcast.
• I learned a lot of words by using them in  real conversations.
• One way of becoming fluent is by talking to other people in English every day
• Another way of saving money is by not going out to restaurants for a while.

Would rather and would prefer

The structure of these sentences are the same except for one small difference: rather is followed by a base verb and prefer is followed by an infinitive.

Subject + Would + Rather + Base Verb

• I would rather live in a warm country.
• I would rather go to a different restaurant.

Subject + Would + Prefer + To + Verb

• I would prefer to live in a warm country.
• She would prefer to meet on Monday.

Not comes before the verb with both rather and prefer.

• I would rather not go to work today.
• I would prefer not to play a game.

Conversation

Alex: Would you rather stay home and cook dinner or go out?

Betty: I’d rather go out. I am pretty tired today, so I don’t want to cook. What about you? Would you rather stay in or go out?

Alex: I would prefer to stay in, but we can go out if you would like.

Betty: That would be nice. What type of restaurant would you like to go to?

Alex: I’d prefer to go somewhere quiet.

Betty: Really? Not me. I would rather go somewhere fun, maybe even

with some live music.

Alex: But I thought you were tired?

Betty: I am, but not too tired to have some fun.

Alex: Well, I’d prefer not to, but…..OK.