Breakdown of Wir bevorzugen es, unsere Routine nicht zu ändern.
es
it
wir
we
nicht
not
unser
our
zu
to (infinitive marker)
ändern
to change (modify, alter)
bevorzugen
to prefer
die Routine
the routine
Questions & Answers about Wir bevorzugen es, unsere Routine nicht zu ändern.
Why do we need the word es after bevorzugen?
The verb bevorzugen (to prefer) requires a direct object. Because the thing we prefer in this sentence is an entire action (unsere Routine nicht zu ändern), we put es in the main clause to hold the spot of that object. It acts as a placeholder (a 'Korrelat') pointing to the infinitive phrase that follows.
Is it grammatically incorrect to drop the es and just say 'Wir bevorzugen, unsere...'?
In standard German, yes, you really need it here. While a few verbs allow you to drop the placeholder es, bevorzugen is a verb that strongly requires it when an infinitive clause or a dass clause acts as its direct object.
Why is nicht placed right before zu ändern rather than earlier in the phrase?
In German, nicht generally goes right before the specific element it negates. Here, it negates the action of changing itself. In an infinitive phrase, this means nicht sits directly in front of the zu plus infinitive combination.
I often use lieber to express preference. How would this sentence look if I used lieber instead of bevorzugen?
Using lieber is actually much more common in everyday spoken German! You would say: Wir ändern unsere Routine lieber nicht. Notice that by using the adverb lieber, you completely avoid the complex infinitive clause and the placeholder es.
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