French Phrase
Je préfère acheter en ligne.
Meaning
The speaker is stating a personal preference for buying things on the internet rather than in a physical store. It can be used to compare shopping habits or to explain why a purchase was made online.
When to use
Use this sentence when you are talking about your shopping habits, when someone asks where you usually buy something, or when you want to justify an online purchase in a conversation about consumer choices.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Jepréfèreacheterenligne.
Subject pronoun (Je)
The first‑person singular pronoun used before a verb.
Verb préférer (préfère)
A regular -er verb that expresses preference; conjugated in the present tense, 1st person singular adds an -e.
Infinitive after préférer
When préférer is followed by another action, the second verb stays in the infinitive (acheter).
Prepositional phrase en ligne
‘en ligne’ means ‘online’; it functions as an adverbial complement of place.
🗨In Conversation
Tu fais tes courses où habituellement ?
Where do you usually do your shopping?
Je préfère acheter en ligne.
I prefer to buy online.
✕Common Mistakes
Je préfère à acheter en ligne.
‘Préférer’ does not take the preposition ‘à’ before the infinitive; the correct structure is ‘préférer + infinitif’.
Je préfère acheter sur ligne.
The correct prepositional phrase is ‘en ligne’, not ‘sur ligne’.
Je prefere acheter en ligne.
Don’t forget the accent on the first ‘e’; without it the verb is misspelled.
↔Alternatives
J'aime mieux acheter sur Internet.
I like buying on the Internet better.
Je préfère faire mes achats en ligne.
I prefer to do my shopping online.
Je préfère commander en ligne.
I prefer to order online.
Cultural Tip
In France, ‘en ligne’ is the most common way to say ‘online’, especially in formal or neutral contexts. ‘Sur Internet’ is also correct but sounds a bit more casual. When talking about e‑commerce, you’ll often hear phrases like ‘faire du shopping en ligne’ or ‘acheter sur un site web’. Remember that French speakers may ask follow‑up questions about delivery times or payment security, so be ready to discuss those details.