This document provides a synthesis of using "prefers" and "after" in sentence construction. It uses a 3 step process: 1) Decide the item or activity that is preferred/comes first, 2) Use clues like "more than" or past participles to identify which is preferred/comes first, and 3) Structure the sentence with the preferred/first item after "prefers" or "after". Examples are given and analyzed to demonstrate the synthesis.

1. Synthesis:
prefers…to…

2. ‘prefers… Step 1:
Step 3:
to…’ Decide which
Put the item / activity
activity / item the Step 2: . Use ‘more
the subject likes more
subject likes than’ as clue.
just after ‘prefer’ and
more.
the second item /
activity just after ‘to’
Activity she Activity she
likes more likes less
Q1) She likes swimming more than dancing.
Subject prefers Activity she likes more to Activity she likes less
She prefers swimming to dancing.
Gerund Gerund

3. ‘prefers… Step 1:
Step 3:
to…’ Decide which
Put the item / activity
activity / item the Step 2: . Use ‘rather …
the subject likes more
subject likes than…’ as clue.
just after ‘prefer’ and
more.
the second item /
activity just after ‘to’
Activity he Activity he
likes more likes less
Q2) My father would rather build the shelf himself than buy one.
Subject prefers Activity she likes more to Activity she likes less
My father prefers building the shelf himself to buying one.
Gerund Gerund

4. ‘prefers… Step 1:
Step 3:
to…’ Decide which
Put the item / activity
activity / item the Step 2: . Use ‘more
the subject likes more
subject likes than’ as clue.
just after ‘prefer’ and
more.
the second item /
activity just after ‘to’
Item she likes Item she likes
more less
Q3) Sandy likes the red dress more than the green dress.
Subject prefers item she likes more to item she likes less
Sandy prefers the red dress to the green one.

5. ‘prefers… Step 1:
Step 3:
to…’ Decide which
Step 2: . Use ‘do not Put the item / activity
activity / item the
enjoy as much’ as the subject likes more
subject likes
clue. just after ‘prefer’ and
more.
the second item /
activity just after ‘to’
What the boys what the boys
like less like more
Q4) The boys do not enjoy music lessons as much as they enjoy P.E. lessons.
Subject prefers What the boys like more to What the boys like less
The boys prefer P.E. lessons to music lessons.

6. ‘prefers… Step 1:
Step 3:
to…’ Decide which
Put the item / activity
activity / item the Step 2: . Use ‘rather …
the subject likes more
subject likes than…’ as clue.
just after ‘prefer’ and
more.
the second item /
activity just after ‘to’
Activity the Activity the
subject likes more subject likes less
Q5) Everyone at the party would rather play games than dance.
Subject prefers Activity the subject likes to Activity the subject likes
more less
Everyone at prefers playing games to dancing.
the party
Gerund Gerund

7. Synthesis: After

8. ‘after’ Step 1:
Decide which
Step 2: past participle
Step 3:
Put the first action
(had ______) tells you
action takes place after the word
the first action. ‘Then’
first ‘after’.
tells you the second
action.
First action Second action
Q1) Mr Chin had finished reading the Then, I will go to the library.
newspaper.
After (first action) , (second action)
After Mr Chin had finished reading the newspaper , he washed his car.
After reading the news paper , Mr Chin washed his
car.

9. ‘after’ Step 1:
Decide which
Step 3:
Put the first action
Step 2: past participle
action takes place after the word
(had ______) tells you
first ‘after’.
the first action.
First action Second action
Q2) They had had dinner. They went for a walk.
(second action) after (first action)
They went for a walk after having their dinner.
They went for a walk after they had their dinner.

10. ‘after’ Step 1:
Decide which Step 2: . ‘Then’ tells
Step 3:
Put the first action
action takes place you the second after the word
first action. ‘after’.
First action Second action
Q3) Terence brushed his teeth. Then, he went to bed.
(second action) after (first action)
Terence went to bed after brushing his teeth.
Terence went to bed after he brushed his teeth.

11. ‘after’ Step 1:
Decide which Step 2: ‘Then’ tells you
Step 3:
Put the first action
action takes place the second action. after the word
first ‘after’.
First action Second action
Q4) George showed the man the way to the post office. Then, he went home.
After (first action) , (second action)
After George showed the man the way to the post , he went home.
office
After showing the man the way to he post office , George went home.

12. ‘after’ Step 1:
Decide which
Step 2: . ‘Then’ tells
Step 3:
Put the first action
you the second action.
action takes place after the word
first ‘after’.
First action Second action
Q5) Jeremy drew the picture. Then, he painted it.
(second action) after (first action)
Jeremy painted the picture after drawing it.
Jeremy painted the picture after he drew it.