How do we use the verb "prefer to"?

[Martini]

Test No. errors/elem-2 "Be careful", question 9

I prefer go to the cinema instead of watching television.

(a) prefer
(b) the
(c) instead of

Test No. errors/elem-2 "Be careful", answer 9

I prefer to go to the cinema instead of watching television.

Correct entry: prefer to
The error was: (a) prefer
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Well; I think there are two mistakes in this sentence and I don't know which one I should choose.
Fisrt "Prefer" is used to compare two nouns. however in the sentence after "prefer" is a verb "go" in this case "would rather" is proper.
Second "instead of" is another mistake. If I use "Prefer" I must write "to" but if I use "would rather" I must write "than"

Please help me if I am in an error and explain me why will be the answer.

[Mister Micawber]

.
Your logic is a little off. You are only offered 3 options, and only prefer is incorrect in the given sentence. Instead of, as a phrasal preposition works in any case.

Prefer is followed by go in the original only because it is incorrect. In the corrected version, I prefer to go instead of watching gives us two nonfinite clauses both serving as objects of prefer:

You prefer what?
I prefer to go.
I don't prefer watching.
.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Alan]

Hi Martin,

Thank you for your comments. I have two questions for you: why do you say that would rather is proper? and what is wrong with prefer in your opinion?

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Martin]

[Alan]

The point is that would rather is your choice and doesn't appear in my test.
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English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms

[Katarzyna]

Yes, that may be a little bit confusing as ALL grammar books and dictionaries use ‘to’ with prefer, e.g.:

He prefers watching rugby to playing it.
I prefer red wine to white.

It is because students often use ‘than’.

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But I am still in doubt :
1. might “instead of " be recognized as too colloquial or something during the exam or it may be used freely?
2. is the sentence
I would rather go to the cinema instead of watching television.
correct?
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I’d greatly appreciate your answer. Thanks.

[Martina]

I think we should say :I prefer going to the cinema to watching television. It's a structure : S + prefer+ gerund/noun1 +to + gerund/noun2.Is it right?

[Mister Micawber]

.
These are fine:

I prefer to go to the cinema instead of watching television.
I would rather go to the cinema instead of watching television.-- 'Would rather' and 'prefer to' do not require any specific further structure.
.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's