Grammar

Would Rather

'Would rather' expresses preference. With a base verb it states what the speaker prefers to do; with a past-tense clause it states what one prefers someone else to do.

Post

Level B2 Modals

Summary

'Would rather' expresses preference. With a base verb it states what the speaker prefers to do; with a past-tense clause it states what one prefers someone else to do.

Structure

would rather + base verb (than ...) ; would rather + subject + past tense

Examples

I'd rather walk than take the bus.
She'd rather stay home tonight.
I'd rather you didn't smoke in here.
We'd rather you came tomorrow than today.

Common mistakes

• Using 'to': 'I'd rather to go' should be 'I'd rather go'.
• Using a present tense in the other-subject pattern: 'I'd rather you don't' should be 'I'd rather you didn't'.

Related

Had Better Wish / If Only (Present)

More modals

Can / Could (Ability and Permission) A2

Use 'can' for present ability and informal permission or requests. Use 'could' for past ability and for more polite requests.

Must / Have To (Obligation) B1

Use 'must' and 'have to' to express obligation or necessity. 'Mustn't' means something is forbidden, while 'don't have to' means there is no obligation.

May / Might (Possibility) B1

Use 'may' and 'might' to talk about present or future possibility. 'May' is also used for formal permission.

Would for Past Habits B2

Use 'would' to talk about repeated past actions and habits, similar to 'used to'. Unlike 'used to', 'would' is not normally used for past states.

Would (Polite Requests and Hypotheticals) B1

Use 'would' for polite requests and offers, for hypothetical results (especially in conditionals), and to describe imagined situations.

Can and Can't for Ability A1

Use 'can' to say someone is able to do something and 'can't' for inability. 'Can' is followed by the base form of the verb and stays the same for all subjects.

External links

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