diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d0901ab..b579bfe 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -418,6 +418,12 @@ $request->indicesBoost([
     ['my-index' => 1.3],
 ]);
 
+// define the search type
+$request->searchType('query_then_fetch');
+
+// set the preference
+$request->preference('_local');
+
 // use pagination
 $request->from(0)->size(20);
 
diff --git a/src/Documents/DocumentManager.php b/src/Documents/DocumentManager.php
index f2c1f89..b9ef5eb 100644
--- a/src/Documents/DocumentManager.php
+++ b/src/Documents/DocumentManager.php
@@ -104,13 +104,8 @@ public function deleteByQuery(string $indexName, array $query, bool $refresh = f
 
     public function search(string $indexName, SearchRequest $request): SearchResponse
     {
-        $params = [
-            'index' => $indexName,
-            'body' => $request->toArray(),
-        ];
-
+        $params = array_merge($request->toArray(), ['index' => $indexName]);
         $response = $this->client->search($params);
-
         return new SearchResponse($response);
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/Search/SearchRequest.php b/src/Search/SearchRequest.php
index 0beb07b..c0945bc 100644
--- a/src/Search/SearchRequest.php
+++ b/src/Search/SearchRequest.php
@@ -14,43 +14,43 @@ final class SearchRequest implements Arrayable
     public function __construct(?array $query = null)
     {
         if (isset($query)) {
-            $this->request['query'] = $query;
+            $this->request['body']['query'] = $query;
         }
     }
 
     public function highlight(array $highlight): self
     {
-        $this->request['highlight'] = $highlight;
+        $this->request['body']['highlight'] = $highlight;
         return $this;
     }
 
     public function sort(array $sort): self
     {
-        $this->request['sort'] = $sort;
+        $this->request['body']['sort'] = $sort;
         return $this;
     }
 
     public function rescore(array $rescore): self
     {
-        $this->request['rescore'] = $rescore;
+        $this->request['body']['rescore'] = $rescore;
         return $this;
     }
 
     public function from(int $from): self
     {
-        $this->request['from'] = $from;
+        $this->request['body']['from'] = $from;
         return $this;
     }
 
     public function size(int $size): self
     {
-        $this->request['size'] = $size;
+        $this->request['body']['size'] = $size;
         return $this;
     }
 
     public function suggest(array $suggest): self
     {
-        $this->request['suggest'] = $suggest;
+        $this->request['body']['suggest'] = $suggest;
         return $this;
     }
 
@@ -59,25 +59,25 @@ public function suggest(array $suggest): self
      */
     public function source($source): self
     {
-        $this->request['_source'] = $source;
+        $this->request['body']['_source'] = $source;
         return $this;
     }
 
     public function collapse(array $collapse): self
     {
-        $this->request['collapse'] = $collapse;
+        $this->request['body']['collapse'] = $collapse;
         return $this;
     }
 
     public function aggregations(array $aggregations): self
     {
-        $this->request['aggregations'] = $aggregations;
+        $this->request['body']['aggregations'] = $aggregations;
         return $this;
     }
 
     public function postFilter(array $postFilter): self
     {
-        $this->request['post_filter'] = $postFilter;
+        $this->request['body']['post_filter'] = $postFilter;
         return $this;
     }
 
@@ -86,31 +86,43 @@ public function postFilter(array $postFilter): self
      */
     public function trackTotalHits($trackTotalHits): self
     {
-        $this->request['track_total_hits'] = $trackTotalHits;
+        $this->request['body']['track_total_hits'] = $trackTotalHits;
         return $this;
     }
 
     public function indicesBoost(array $indicesBoost): self
     {
-        $this->request['indices_boost'] = $indicesBoost;
+        $this->request['body']['indices_boost'] = $indicesBoost;
         return $this;
     }
 
     public function trackScores(bool $trackScores): self
     {
-        $this->request['track_scores'] = $trackScores;
+        $this->request['body']['track_scores'] = $trackScores;
         return $this;
     }
 
     public function minScore(float $minScore): self
     {
-        $this->request['min_score'] = $minScore;
+        $this->request['body']['min_score'] = $minScore;
         return $this;
     }
 
     public function scriptFields(array $scriptFields): self
     {
-        $this->request['script_fields'] = $scriptFields;
+        $this->request['body']['script_fields'] = $scriptFields;
+        return $this;
+    }
+
+    public function searchType(string $searchType): self
+    {
+        $this->request['search_type'] = $searchType;
+        return $this;
+    }
+
+    public function preference(string $preference): self
+    {
+        $this->request['preference'] = $preference;
         return $this;
     }
 
diff --git a/tests/Unit/Search/SearchRequestTest.php b/tests/Unit/Search/SearchRequestTest.php
index aeb8fb2..b52c5b8 100644
--- a/tests/Unit/Search/SearchRequestTest.php
+++ b/tests/Unit/Search/SearchRequestTest.php
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-<?php declare(strict_types=1);
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
 
 namespace ElasticAdapter\Tests\Unit\Search;
 
@@ -20,9 +22,11 @@ public function test_array_casting_with_query(): void
         ]);
 
         $this->assertSame([
-            'query' => [
-                'term' => [
-                    'user' => 'foo',
+            'body' => [
+                'query' => [
+                    'term' => [
+                        'user' => 'foo',
+                    ],
                 ],
             ],
         ], $request->toArray());
@@ -43,14 +47,16 @@ public function test_array_casting_with_query_and_highlight(): void
         ]);
 
         $this->assertEquals([
-            'query' => [
-                'match' => [
-                    'content' => 'foo',
+            'body' => [
+                'query' => [
+                    'match' => [
+                        'content' => 'foo',
+                    ],
                 ],
-            ],
-            'highlight' => [
-                'fields' => [
-                    'content' => new stdClass(),
+                'highlight' => [
+                    'fields' => [
+                        'content' => new stdClass(),
+                    ],
                 ],
             ],
         ], $request->toArray());
@@ -68,12 +74,14 @@ public function test_array_casting_with_query_and_sort(): void
         ]);
 
         $this->assertEquals([
-            'query' => [
-                'match_all' => new stdClass(),
-            ],
-            'sort' => [
-                ['title' => 'asc'],
-                '_score',
+            'body' => [
+                'query' => [
+                    'match_all' => new stdClass(),
+                ],
+                'sort' => [
+                    ['title' => 'asc'],
+                    '_score',
+                ],
             ],
         ], $request->toArray());
     }
@@ -101,22 +109,24 @@ public function test_array_casting_with_query_and_rescore(): void
         ]);
 
         $this->assertEquals([
-            'query' => [
-                'match_all' => new stdClass(),
-            ],
-            'rescore' => [
-                'window_size' => 50,
+            'body' => [
                 'query' => [
-                    'rescore_query' => [
-                        'match_phrase' => [
-                            'message' => [
-                                'query' => 'the quick brown',
-                                'slop' => 2,
+                    'match_all' => new stdClass(),
+                ],
+                'rescore' => [
+                    'window_size' => 50,
+                    'query' => [
+                        'rescore_query' => [
+                            'match_phrase' => [
+                                'message' => [
+                                    'query' => 'the quick brown',
+                                    'slop' => 2,
+                                ],
                             ],
                         ],
+                        'query_weight' => 0.7,
+                        'rescore_query_weight' => 1.2,
                     ],
-                    'query_weight' => 0.7,
-                    'rescore_query_weight' => 1.2,
                 ],
             ],
         ], $request->toArray());
@@ -131,10 +141,12 @@ public function test_array_casting_with_query_and_from(): void
         $request->from(10);
 
         $this->assertEquals([
-            'query' => [
-                'match_all' => new stdClass(),
+            'body' => [
+                'query' => [
+                    'match_all' => new stdClass(),
+                ],
+                'from' => 10,
             ],
-            'from' => 10,
         ], $request->toArray());
     }
 
@@ -147,10 +159,12 @@ public function test_array_casting_with_query_and_size(): void
         $request->size(100);
 
         $this->assertEquals([
-            'query' => [
-                'match_all' => new stdClass(),
+            'body' => [
+                'query' => [
+                    'match_all' => new stdClass(),
+                ],
+                'size' => 100,
             ],
-            'size' => 100,
         ], $request->toArray());
     }
 
@@ -170,14 +184,16 @@ public function test_array_casting_with_query_and_suggest(): void
         ]);
 
         $this->assertEquals([
-            'query' => [
-                'match_none' => new stdClass(),
-            ],
-            'suggest' => [
-                'color_suggestion' => [
-                    'text' => 'red',
-                    'term' => [
-                        'field' => 'color',
+            'body' => [
+                'query' => [
+                    'match_none' => new stdClass(),
+                ],
+                'suggest' => [
+                    'color_suggestion' => [
+                        'text' => 'red',
+                        'term' => [
+                            'field' => 'color',
+                        ],
                     ],
                 ],
             ],
@@ -208,10 +224,12 @@ public function test_array_casting_with_source($source): void
         $request->source($source);
 
         $this->assertEquals([
-            'query' => [
-                'match_all' => new stdClass(),
+            'body' => [
+                'query' => [
+                    'match_all' => new stdClass(),
+                ],
+                '_source' => $source,
             ],
-            '_source' => $source,
         ], $request->toArray());
     }
 
@@ -226,11 +244,13 @@ public function test_array_casting_with_collapse(): void
         ]);
 
         $this->assertEquals([
-            'query' => [
-                'match_all' => new stdClass(),
-            ],
-            'collapse' => [
-                'field' => 'user',
+            'body' => [
+                'query' => [
+                    'match_all' => new stdClass(),
+                ],
+                'collapse' => [
+                    'field' => 'user',
+                ],
             ],
         ], $request->toArray());
     }
@@ -248,10 +268,12 @@ public function test_array_casting_with_aggregations(): void
         ]);
 
         $this->assertEquals([
-            'aggregations' => [
-                'min_price' => [
-                    'min' => [
-                        'field' => 'price',
+            'body' => [
+                'aggregations' => [
+                    'min_price' => [
+                        'min' => [
+                            'field' => 'price',
+                        ],
                     ],
                 ],
             ],
@@ -271,12 +293,14 @@ public function test_array_casting_with_post_filter(): void
         ]);
 
         $this->assertEquals([
-            'query' => [
-                'match_all' => new stdClass(),
-            ],
-            'post_filter' => [
-                'term' => [
-                    'color' => 'red',
+            'body' => [
+                'query' => [
+                    'match_all' => new stdClass(),
+                ],
+                'post_filter' => [
+                    'term' => [
+                        'color' => 'red',
+                    ],
                 ],
             ],
         ], $request->toArray());
@@ -291,10 +315,12 @@ public function test_array_casting_with_track_total_hits(): void
         $request->trackTotalHits(100);
 
         $this->assertEquals([
-            'query' => [
-                'match_all' => new stdClass(),
+            'body' => [
+                'query' => [
+                    'match_all' => new stdClass(),
+                ],
+                'track_total_hits' => 100,
             ],
-            'track_total_hits' => 100,
         ], $request->toArray());
     }
 
@@ -310,12 +336,14 @@ public function test_array_casting_with_indices_boost(): void
         ]);
 
         $this->assertEquals([
-            'query' => [
-                'match_all' => new stdClass(),
-            ],
-            'indices_boost' => [
-                ['my-alias' => 1.4],
-                ['my-index' => 1.3],
+            'body' => [
+                'query' => [
+                    'match_all' => new stdClass(),
+                ],
+                'indices_boost' => [
+                    ['my-alias' => 1.4],
+                    ['my-index' => 1.3],
+                ],
             ],
         ], $request->toArray());
     }
@@ -329,10 +357,12 @@ public function test_array_casting_with_track_scores(): void
         $request->trackScores(true);
 
         $this->assertEquals([
-            'query' => [
-                'match_all' => new stdClass(),
+            'body' => [
+                'query' => [
+                    'match_all' => new stdClass(),
+                ],
+                'track_scores' => true,
             ],
-            'track_scores' => true,
         ], $request->toArray());
     }
 
@@ -356,17 +386,19 @@ public function test_array_casting_with_script_fields(): void
         ]);
 
         $this->assertEquals([
-            'query' => [
-                'match_all' => new stdClass(),
-            ],
-            'script_fields' => [
-                'my_doubled_field' => [
-                    'script' => [
-                        'lang' => 'painless',
-                        'source' => 'doc[params.field] * params.multiplier',
-                        'params' => [
-                            'field' => 'my_field',
-                            'multiplier' => 2,
+            'body' => [
+                'query' => [
+                    'match_all' => new stdClass(),
+                ],
+                'script_fields' => [
+                    'my_doubled_field' => [
+                        'script' => [
+                            'lang' => 'painless',
+                            'source' => 'doc[params.field] * params.multiplier',
+                            'params' => [
+                                'field' => 'my_field',
+                                'multiplier' => 2,
+                            ],
                         ],
                     ],
                 ],
@@ -383,10 +415,48 @@ public function test_array_casting_with_min_score(): void
         $request->minScore(0.5);
 
         $this->assertEquals([
-            'query' => [
-                'match_all' => new stdClass(),
+            'body' => [
+                'query' => [
+                    'match_all' => new stdClass(),
+                ],
+                'min_score' => 0.5,
+            ],
+        ], $request->toArray());
+    }
+
+    public function test_array_casting_with_search_type(): void
+    {
+        $request = new SearchRequest([
+            'match_all' => new stdClass(),
+        ]);
+
+        $request->searchType('query_then_fetch');
+
+        $this->assertEquals([
+            'body' => [
+                'query' => [
+                    'match_all' => new stdClass(),
+                ],
+            ],
+            'search_type' => 'query_then_fetch',
+        ], $request->toArray());
+    }
+
+    public function test_array_casting_with_preference(): void
+    {
+        $request = new SearchRequest([
+            'match_all' => new stdClass(),
+        ]);
+
+        $request->preference('_local');
+
+        $this->assertEquals([
+            'body' => [
+                'query' => [
+                    'match_all' => new stdClass(),
+                ],
             ],
-            'min_score' => 0.5,
+            'preference' => '_local',
         ], $request->toArray());
     }
 }