Preferable vs. preferred

[Vitaly]

English Language Proficiency Tests, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #85 "Verbal Skills Test", question 4

I don't mind sleeping on an uncomfortable bed in a hostel as anything is ......... to sleeping in a tent.

(a) preferable
(b) preferred
(c) preferring
(d) prefers

English Language Proficiency Tests, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #85 "Verbal Skills Test", answer 4

I don't mind sleeping on an uncomfortable bed in a hostel as anything is preferable to sleeping in a tent.

Correct answer: (a) preferable

Your answer was: incorrect
I don't mind sleeping on an uncomfortable bed in a hostel as anything is preferred to sleeping in a tent.
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Why "preferred" is not suitable here?

Vitaly

[Alan]

Hi Vitaly,

An interesting point. I suppose preferable as an adjective is what you would choose when you wanted to show that you would rather do one thing more than another. Preferred would be used in an official/more formal way as in:

Please indicate your preferred method of travel - coach/plane/ship.

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Womens' Day

[Tbl]

As a native English speaker, this is how I'd explain it (intuitively, not from a book):

"Preferred" is a synonym of "favorite". The thing you are naming as preferred/favorite is liked or enjoyed more than anything else in that category. "Preferred" is formal (usually heard in the high-class business world); "favorite" is informal.
Examples:
"Our business client's preferred hotel costs $1,000 per night. Her preferred drink is a martini."
"Cake is my favorite dessert! I want to watch my favorite TV show."

"Preferable" means nearly the same thing. The thing you are naming as preferable is liked or enjoyed more than one specific other named thing. You must use (or imply) the format "A is preferable to B".
Examples:
"When it is sunny and warm, walking is preferable to driving."
"Tomorrow will be cold and rainy."
"Will it? Then driving will be preferable."

Here is an example of a dialogue that uses both "preferred" and "preferable":
"I would like to rent a car. My preferred automobile is a Lincoln Town Car."
"We have two Lincolns here: a red one and a blue one."
"The red one is preferable [to the blue one]."