The verb 'prefer' is accompanied by the preposition 'to' when it carries the meaning of 'like' in a comparative sense. Ideally, the preposition is positioned in-between the comparative elements in the predicate. Examples are:

• Wuntira prefers rice TO fufu.
• Dawuni and Danaa prefer reading TO writing.
• Wuntiti and Chalpang prefer Poetry TO Prose.

In certain contexts, it is permissible for the phrase 'rather than' to follow the object of 'prefer.' Examples are:

• I prefer to be at home RATHER THAN to go to school today.
• Suhudoo prefers Law RATHER THAN Politics.

Colleague learner, please NOTE that 'rather than' as a phrase NOT 'than' as a word is allowed in the contexts under review.

'Prefer' is also found in Legal Literature. Here, the appropriate preposition is 'against', as the verb has a technical meaning: to submit a formal charge against a person or an institution. Examples are:

• The prosecutor has preferred a charge of fraud AGAINST the Registrar for forging a list of National Service Personnel.
• A murder charge has been preferred AGAINST the armed robber.

Sometimes, 'prefer' does not need any preposition in the legal usage. An example is:

• The police will prefer appropriate charges after investigating the riot at Sognaayili Junior High School.

Fellow learner, 'prefer' is among the preposition–related verbs that constitute a source of common errors in English. The verb could be simple, but the appropriate preposition might not be familiar or pleasant to the tongue. However, a bit of care could avoid or reduce the tendency to commit the error.

 

By Abubakar Mohammed Marzuq Azindoo, Coordinator of Students and University Relations, University of Applied Management (UAM), Germany – Ghana Campus, McCarthy Hill, Accra and Tamale

Email: azindoo200@gmail.com Tel: 0244755402