We use preference when we state that we like one thing than the other.
S + PREFER …….. TO ……….
S +WOULD PREFER  …….. RATHER THAN ……
S + LIKE  ……… BETTER THAN  ………
S + WOULD RATHER  ………. THAN ………
S + PREFER   NOUN   TO  NOUN
S + PREFER  GERUND TO GERUND
I prefer coffee to milk.
She prefers English lesson to mathematics.
They prefer swimming to running.
He prefers living in village to town.
S + WOULD PREFER TO INFINITIVE RATHER THAN TO INFINITIVE
I’d prefer to drink coffee rather than milk.
She would prefer to study English rather than mathematics.
They would prefer to swim rather than run.
S+LIKE  NOUN BETTER THAN NOUN
S + LIKE   GERUND BETTER THAN GERUND
I like coffee better than milk.
She likes English better than  mathematics.
They like swimming better than running.
He likes living in village better than in town.
S + WOULD RATHER   INFINITIVE WITHOUT TO   THAN
INFINITIVE WITHOUT TO
I’d rather drink coffee than milk.
She would rather study English than  mathematics.
They would rather be here than there.
He would rather be a teacher than taxi driver.