to prefer

[lady_bird13]

Hi!

"I prefer the sea to the mountain."

"I prefer sea than mountain."

Please, could you tell me which form is correct?

Thank you!

 

[5jj]

"I prefer the sea to [STRIKE]the[/STRIKE] mountains."

 

[lady_bird13]

Why don't I use than..?

Can I also say:"I prefer beach to mountains holiday"?

Thank you very much

 

[5jj]

Why don't I use than..?
We prefer one thing to another.
We like one thing better than another.

5

 

[maoyueh]

Why don't I use than..?

Can I also say:"I prefer beach to mountains holiday"?

Thank you very much

"Than" is used in comparative sentences: ...er...than..., or ...more...than...; it should not be used after the verb "prefer."

"I prefer the beach to the mountains for my holidays."

 

[SoothingDave]

"I prefer the sea to [STRIKE]the[/STRIKE] mountains."

I would say "I prefer the sea to the mountains."

Mountains usually congregate together, at least where I am from. I would go to a resort in "the mountains."

 

[philo2009]

"Than" is used in comparative sentences: ...er...than..., or ...more...than...; it should not be used after the verb "prefer."

"

True except when comparing two infinitives, e.g.

I prefer to swim in the sea than to climb a mountain.

 

[maoyueh]

True except when comparing two infinitives, e.g.

I prefer to swim in the sea than to climb a mountain.

Would it be more formal to say "I prefer to swim in the sea rather than climb a mountain?"

 

[philo2009]

Would it be more formal to say "I prefer to swim in the sea rather than climb a mountain?"

Not really, just tautologous, since the meaning of 'rather' is already naturally included in the verb 'prefer'.