Would rather
We usewould ratheror’d ratherto talk about preferring one thing to another.Would ratherhas two different constructions. (The subjects are underlined in the examples.)
same subject (+ base form) | different subject (+ past simple clause) |
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In negative sentences with a different subject, the negative comes on the clause that follows, not onwould rather:
She’dratheryoudidn’tphone after 10 o’clock.
Not:She wouldn’t rather you phoned after 10 o’clock.
Same subject
When the subject is the same person in both clauses, we usewould rather(not) followed by the base form of the verb:
We’drathergoon Monday.
Not:We’d rather to go… orWe’d rather going…
More than half the people questionedwould rather havea shorter summer break and more holidays at other times.
I’drathernotfly. I hate planes.
When we want to refer to the past we usewould rather+have+-edform (perfect infinitive withoutto):
Shewould rather have spentthe money on a holiday.(The money wasn’t spent on a holiday.)
I’dratherhaveseenit at the cinema than on DVD.(I saw the film on DVD.)
Different subjects
When the subjects of the two clauses are different, we often use the past simple to talk about the present or future, and the past perfect to talk about the past:
Iwould rathertheydidsomething about it instead of just talking about it.(past simple to talk about the present or future)
WouldyouratherIwasn’thonest with you?(past simple to talk about the present or future)
Not:Would you rather I’m not honest with you?or …I won’t be honest with you?
I’dratheryouhadn’trungme at work.(past perfect to talk about the past)
Much rather
We can usemuchwithwould ratherto make the preference stronger. In speaking, we stressmuch:
I’dmuch rathermake a phone call than send an email.
She’dmuchratherthey didn’t know about what had happened.
Short responses:I’d rather not
We often useI’d rather notas a short response to saynoto a suggestion or request:
A:Do you want to go for a coffee?
B:I’d rather not,if you don’t mind.
Would sooner,would just as soon
We use the phraseswould soonerandwould just as soonwhen we say that we prefer one thing to another thing. They mean approximately the same aswould rather:
I don’t really want to go back to France again this year. I’dsoonergo to Spain.
Thanks for the invitation, but, if you don’t mind, we’djustas soonstay at home and watch it all on TV.
Would sooneris more common thanwould just as soon. However,would ratheris more common than both of these phrases.
See also:
Would rather
Would rather,would sooner: typical errors
We don’t usewould ratherorwould soonerwith an -ingform or ato-infinitive:
I don’t need a lift, thanks. I’dratherwalk.
Not:I’d rather to walk. orI’d rather walking.
When we usenotreferring to a different subject, we attachnotto the second clause, not towould ratherorwould sooner:
I’d rather they didn’ttell anyone
Not:I’d rather not they told anyone.
See also:
Rather