Fill in the blank with most appropriate option:
I prefer tea ___ coffee.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
Correct Answer
to
Explanation
The sentence requires a preposition to complete a statement of personal preference. The verb prefer follows a unique grammatical rule where it must be paired with the preposition to when comparing two nouns.
While many people mistakenly use 'than' or 'over' in daily conversation, these choices are grammatically incorrect in standard English tests. The standard comparative word 'than' is used with comparative adjectives like better, bigger, or more. However, because prefer already has a comparative meaning built into it, using than creates an ungrammatical repetition.
Therefore, the only correct way to connect the two choices is by using to, making the correct sentence: 'I prefer tea to coffee.'
Key Points
To avoid common traps in competitive exams, remember that verbs and adjectives expressing fixed preferences or seniority always take to instead of than.
This rule applies to words like prefer, superior, inferior, senior, junior, prior, and anterior. For example, you should always say 'He is senior to me,' rather than 'He is senior than me.'