Level 08 – Step 09 : Preferences and Habits (I prefer coffee to tea / She would rather read a book than watch TV; He used to play soccer when he was a child / I’m used to waking up early.)
/Level 08 – Step 09 : Preferences and Habits (I prefer coffee to tea / She would rather read a book than watch TV; He used to play soccer when he was a child / I’m used to waking up early.)
🚪 Let’s Begin
/🚪 Let’s Begin
🦉Professor Owl: Today we will learn two important contrasts: how we show preferences and how we talk about past habits versus things we are used to now.
/🦉Professor Owl: Today we will learn two important contrasts: how we show preferences and how we talk about past habits versus things we are used to now.
🐧Igupen: Preferences and habits — they sound similar but I think they use different words.
/🐧Igupen: Preferences and habits — they sound similar but I think they use different words.
🦉Professor Owl: Ho ho.
/🦉Professor Owl: Ho ho.
Right.
/Right.
We use prefer, would rather, and rather than for choices, and used to versus be used to for habits and being familiar with something.
/We use prefer, would rather, and rather than for choices, and used to versus be used to for habits and being familiar with something.
🐧Igupen: Perfect — I want to say what I like and explain what I did before or what I’m comfortable with now.
/🐧Igupen: Perfect — I want to say what I like and explain what I did before or what I’m comfortable with now.
🦉Professor Owl: Listen to the examples, then try the short exercises.
/🦉Professor Owl: Listen to the examples, then try the short exercises.
📚 Lesson
/📚 Lesson
What are we learning?
/What are we learning?
This step teaches two contrasts: preference expressions and habit and familiarity.
/This step teaches two contrasts: preference expressions and habit and familiarity.
We explain the form and the meaning with simple, clear examples.
/We explain the form and the meaning with simple, clear examples.
1) Preference expressions — what they mean and forms
/1) Preference expressions — what they mean and forms
prefer to + verb: a general preference for an action.
/prefer to + verb: a general preference for an action.
Example: I prefer to read before bed.
/Example: I prefer to read before bed.
prefer A to B: compare two nouns or activities.
/prefer A to B: compare two nouns or activities.
Example: I prefer coffee to tea.
/Example: I prefer coffee to tea.
would rather A than B (or would rather + verb): show a stronger, more immediate choice.
/would rather A than B (or would rather + verb): show a stronger, more immediate choice.
Example: She would rather read a book than watch TV.
/Example: She would rather read a book than watch TV.
rather than often links two choices.
/rather than often links two choices.
Example: She walked rather than took the bus.
/Example: She walked rather than took the bus.
2) used to vs be used to — past habit vs present comfort
/2) used to vs be used to — past habit vs present comfort
used to + base verb = past repeated action or habit that no longer happens.
/used to + base verb = past repeated action or habit that no longer happens.
Example: He used to play soccer when he was a child.
/Example: He used to play soccer when he was a child.
be used to + noun / gerund = to be accustomed to something now.
/be used to + noun / gerund = to be accustomed to something now.
Use am/is/are/was/were + used to + -ing or noun.
/Use am/is/are/was/were + used to + -ing or noun.
Example: I’m used to waking up early.
/Example: I’m used to waking up early.
Key form note: after be used to we use a noun or a verb in -ing, not the infinitive.
/Key form note: after be used to we use a noun or a verb in -ing, not the infinitive.
How to choose which one to use
/How to choose which one to use
Talk about what you like: use prefer / would rather.
/Talk about what you like: use prefer / would rather.
If you compare two things, use prefer A to B or would rather A than B.
/If you compare two things, use prefer A to B or would rather A than B.
Talk about the past habit (no longer true): use used to + verb.
/Talk about the past habit (no longer true): use used to + verb.
Talk about being comfortable with something now: use be used to + -ing or noun.
/Talk about being comfortable with something now: use be used to + -ing or noun.
🦉Professor Owl’s one-point tip
/🦉Professor Owl’s one-point tip
If you can say “I did that regularly before but not now,” use used to + verb.
/If you can say “I did that regularly before but not now,” use used to + verb.
If you mean “I am comfortable with this now,” use be used to + -ing.
/If you mean “I am comfortable with this now,” use be used to + -ing.
For choices, use prefer A to B for general tastes and would rather A than B for stronger, immediate choices.
/For choices, use prefer A to B for general tastes and would rather A than B for stronger, immediate choices.
Quick checks inside the lesson
/Quick checks inside the lesson
I prefer tea to coffee.
/I prefer tea to coffee.
I would rather stay home than go out tonight.
/I would rather stay home than go out tonight.
He used to ride his bike to school.
/He used to ride his bike to school.
She is used to speaking in public.
/She is used to speaking in public.
🌼 Sample Sentences
/🌼 Sample Sentences
No.01 I prefer coffee to tea.
/No.01 I prefer coffee to tea.
No.02 I prefer to read before bed.
/No.02 I prefer to read before bed.
No.03 She would rather read a book than watch TV.
/No.03 She would rather read a book than watch TV.
No.04 We would rather walk than take the bus.
/No.04 We would rather walk than take the bus.
No.05 He used to play soccer when he was a child.
/No.05 He used to play soccer when he was a child.
No.06 I’m used to waking up early.
/No.06 I’m used to waking up early.
No.07 Rather than complain, try to find a solution.
/No.07 Rather than complain, try to find a solution.
No.08 They prefer staying home to going out on Sundays.
/No.08 They prefer staying home to going out on Sundays.
No.09 My sister would rather practice piano than play video games.
/No.09 My sister would rather practice piano than play video games.
No.10 She is used to working late on weekdays.
/No.10 She is used to working late on weekdays.
🎓 Practice exercises
/🎓 Practice exercises
Note: Think first, then check the answers.
/Note: Think first, then check the answers.
Q1: Choose the best sentence: You like apples more than oranges. A) I prefer apples to oranges. B) I prefer apples than oranges.
/Q1: Choose the best sentence: You like apples more than oranges. A) I prefer apples to oranges. B) I prefer apples than oranges.
Q2: Fill the blank (prefer): I _____ to walk when the weather is nice. (prefer / prefers)
/Q2: Fill the blank (prefer): I _____ to walk when the weather is nice. (prefer / prefers)
Q3: Change to would rather: She wants to watch a movie, but she chooses reading instead. → She _____ read a book _____ watch a movie.
/Q3: Change to would rather: She wants to watch a movie, but she chooses reading instead. → She _____ read a book _____ watch a movie.
Q4: Choose correct form (rather than): He sat on the bench _____ play outside. (rather than / rather)
/Q4: Choose correct form (rather than): He sat on the bench _____ play outside. (rather than / rather)
Q5: Fill with used to or am used to: When he was young, he _____ swim every day. (used to / is used to)
/Q5: Fill with used to or am used to: When he was young, he _____ swim every day. (used to / is used to)
Q6: Correct or wrong: I’m used to to wake up early. (Correct / Wrong)
/Q6: Correct or wrong: I’m used to to wake up early. (Correct / Wrong)
Q7: Choose the best sentence for a strong immediate choice: A) I prefer tea to coffee. B) I would rather have tea than coffee.
/Q7: Choose the best sentence for a strong immediate choice: A) I prefer tea to coffee. B) I would rather have tea than coffee.
Q8: Fill with prefer A to B form: They like chocolate more than vanilla. → They _____ chocolate _____ vanilla.
/Q8: Fill with prefer A to B form: They like chocolate more than vanilla. → They _____ chocolate _____ vanilla.
Q9: Change to be used to (-ing): She sleeps early now, and this is normal for her. → She _____ sleeping early.
/Q9: Change to be used to (-ing): She sleeps early now, and this is normal for her. → She _____ sleeping early.
Q10: Choose the right past habit sentence: A) He used to play guitar every weekend. B) He is used to play guitar every weekend.
/Q10: Choose the right past habit sentence: A) He used to play guitar every weekend. B) He is used to play guitar every weekend.
◆ Answers
/◆ Answers
A1: A) I prefer apples to oranges.
/A1: A) I prefer apples to oranges.
A2: prefer → I prefer to walk when the weather is nice.
/A2: prefer → I prefer to walk when the weather is nice.
A3: would rather; than → She would rather read a book than watch a movie.
/A3: would rather; than → She would rather read a book than watch a movie.
A4: rather than → He sat on the bench rather than play outside.
/A4: rather than → He sat on the bench rather than play outside.
A5: used to → When he was young, he used to swim every day.
/A5: used to → When he was young, he used to swim every day.
A6: Wrong → Correct: I’m used to waking up early.
/A6: Wrong → Correct: I’m used to waking up early.
A7: B) I would rather have tea than coffee.
/A7: B) I would rather have tea than coffee.
A8: They prefer chocolate to vanilla.
/A8: They prefer chocolate to vanilla.
A9: is used to → She is used to sleeping early.
/A9: is used to → She is used to sleeping early.
A10: A) He used to play guitar every weekend.
/A10: A) He used to play guitar every weekend.
🦉 Closing
/🦉 Closing
🦉Professor Owl: Great work today.
/🦉Professor Owl: Great work today.
Remember: prefer and would rather help you say what you like; used to and be used to help you talk about past habits and present comfort.
/Remember: prefer and would rather help you say what you like; used to and be used to help you talk about past habits and present comfort.
🐧Igupen: I will practice making sentences about what I like and what I did before or am used to now.
/🐧Igupen: I will practice making sentences about what I like and what I did before or am used to now.
🦉Professor Owl: Make two sentences from your day — one with prefer/would rather and one with used to/be used to.
/🦉Professor Owl: Make two sentences from your day — one with prefer/would rather and one with used to/be used to.
Keep practicing and your choices and explanations will sound natural soon.
/Keep practicing and your choices and explanations will sound natural soon.
