I would prefer we not....

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HiWhich one of these is better?I would prefer we not contact them now.I would prefer we do not contact them now.Thanks,Tom

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Mr. TomI would prefer we not contact them now.I would prefer we do not contact them now.

I wonder whether it is possible to say "I'd prefer us not contacting them now."

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Mr. TomWhich one of these is better?

Neither one is better than the other.

Mr. Tom · Answer

Thanks, AStars.

In fact, I asked an incomplete question. Sorry.

Are these sentences equally natural (not better!) and do they carry the same meaning?

I would prefer we did not contact them now.
I would prefer we do not contact them now.
I would prefer we not contact them now.

Thanks again,

Tom

PS: Can we use that after prefer?

Teechr · Answer

I would say, "I would prefer if we didn't contact them now."

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Mr. TomPS: Can we use that after prefer?

Yes.

My preference is the third sentence.

CalifJim · Answer

Mr. TomI would prefer we not contact them now.

This one sounds most natural and correct to me. In my mind, "prefer" naturally takes a mandative construction (i.e., present subjunctive). That could be because I'm American. I don't think the British are equally fond of this construction. The negation of such a construction is just the word "not" without any form of "do".

I prefer she tell us the whole story. / I prefer she not tell us the gory details.
Jane preferred that John talk about football. / Jane preferred that John not talk about the divorce.
Mrs. Pinsky prefers that her son not watch action movies just before bedtime.

CJ

I would prefer we not....

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