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When we are comparing using the verb preferir, the second element of the comparison is either introduced by the preposition "a" or by "que" depending on what comes next.
Preferir a
We use "a" when what comes next is either a noun, a noun phrase or a clause introduced by que.
Look at these examples:
Preferimos los restaurantes japoneses a los restaurantes italianos.We prefer Japanese restaurantes to Italian restaurants.
If we are expressing a preference between two people using their names, the first personal "a" can be dropped and we only use the second:
It is incorrect to use "que" in any of the examples above to introduce the second element of the preference.
All these are incorrect:
- Prefiero mil veces los perros que los gatos.
- Prefiero que me digas la cruel verdad que que me digas una mentira piadosa.
- Prefiero Pedro que Nicolás.
Preferir a/que
When we use infinitives in comparisons, then either "a" or "que" can be used. For example:
Preferir que
However when we have a comparison using infinitives but we omit the verb in the second element, and this is followed by a preposition, we must use "que", not "a".
So for example, this sentence:
would become:
Note that it's also very common to use "antes que" with this same meaning, both with the infinitive and a preposition or when the infinitive is omitted. For example:
If we are using adverbs in the comparison, "que" is generally used. It sounds more natural than using "a":
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