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"Prefer" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "preferir", and "rather than" is a phrase which is often translated as "en vez de". Learn more about the difference between "prefer" and "rather than" below.
prefer(
pruh
-
fuhr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. preferir
I don't understand my sister! She prefers staying at home to going to the movies with me.¡No hay quién entienda a mi hermana! Prefiere quedarse en casa a ir conmigo al cine.
2. (legal)
a. presentar
The wife preferred charges of desertion and non-support.La esposa presentó cargos por deserción y falta de apoyo.
3. (to promote)
a. ascender
Our parish priest was preferred to bishop.El cura de nuestra parroquia fue ascendido a obispo.
4. (to appoint)
a. nombrar
The pope preferred Robert Francis as the bishop of Chiclayo.El papa nombró a Robert Francis como obispo de Chiclayo.
rather than(
rah
-
thuhr
thahn
)A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
1. (instead of)
a. en vez de
I'm going to go to Puerto Vallarta rather than Acapulco this year.Voy a ir a Puerto Vallarta en vez de Acapulco este año.
c. antes que
I'd sooner go shopping rather than visit museums with you.Prefiero ir de compras antes que visitar museos contigo.
d. en lugar de
He always seems to be scolding rather than giving advice.Siempre parece estar regañando en lugar de dar consejos.
e. y no
We need to solve the problems we have rather than create new ones.Necesitamos resolver los problemas que tenemos y no crear nuevos.
