conditional, as a way of softening the expression of preference. Like querer, it is
normally followed by a noun or noun phrase, an infinitive, a demonstrative pronoun,
or it may be preceded by an object pronoun (e.g. lo, ‘it’).¿Prefieres el cine o el teatro?
Do you prefer cinema or theatre?Prefiero el cine.
I prefer cinema.
¿Qué prefiere hacer usted?
What do you prefer to do?Prefiero salir a tomar una copa.
I prefer to go out for a drink.¿Prefieres éste o ése?
Do you prefer this one or that one?Prefiero éste.
I prefer this one.¿Cómo la prefiere usted?
How do you prefer it?
La prefiero muy hecha.
I prefer it well done.Note also the use of preferir with the preposition a in:Prefiero el ballet a la ópera. I prefer ballet to opera.
Prefiero la cerveza al vino. I prefer beer to wine.
Prefiero Carmen a María. I prefer Carmen to María.16.1.2.1 (p. 64)
57.3.2 Me gustaría más, me parece mejor
Me gustaría más, ‘I would prefer’, ‘I like... best’, and me parece mejor, ‘I prefer’,
‘I like... best’ (literally ‘it seems better to me’), are two alternative ways of expressing
preferences, normally used in the spoken language. Remember that in this
construction gustar and parecer must be preceded by an indirect object pronoun
(e.g. me, te, le).¿Cuál te gustaría más?
Which one would you prefer/like best?
Me gustaría más el azul.
I would prefer/like the blue one best.
¿Cuál les parece mejor?
Which one do you prefer/like best?Nos parece mejor aquél.
We prefer that one/We like that one best.58.1 (p. 340)
Expressing preferences and enquiring about preferences 57.3