Would, Rather and Prefer
Expressing preferencce: Id rather/Id sooner
Id rather go to the seaside than to the Ardennes.
Id sooner go to the seaside than to the Ardennes.
My own preferences: Id rather/Id sooner + infinitive
Id rather spend the afternoon with a good friend.
Id rather not go to class today
Preferences about other people: Id rather + simple past to refer
to the present or the future Id rather + past perfect to refer to
the past
Im seeing Emma this afternoon. Id rather you didnt.
I saw Emma yesterday afternoon. Id rather you hadnt.
Short replies: Id rather you didnt . to refer to the present or
the future. Id rather you hadnt to refer to the past.
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1. Now what do you prefer ? Tell your partner
A holiday at the seaside or in the mountains ?Id rather spend my
holidays at the seaside than in the mountains.
1. Working from home or from the office ?
2. Travelling by car or by public transport ?
3. Going to the cinema or to the theatre ?
4. Meat of fish as a main course ?
5. Winter fashion or summer fashion ?
6. Reading or watching television ?
7. A dog or a cat ?
8. Learning vocabulary or grammar ?
3. Now imagine a friend of yours did the following:
He/she gossiped about you to a friend, called your brother a
liar, insulted your father ("You cant drive !"), borrowed your pen
and broke it, danced too closely to your friend, left you waiting
for him/her at the disco for more than 45 minutes.
Talk about what you didnt like. Use the structures reviewed.
Would, Rather and Prefer
WOULD RATHER AND PREFER ARE USED TO EXPRESS PREFERENCES.
1. In order to say what you prefer in general, you can use the
verb " to prefer to " :
There are three possibilities of phrasal construction :
I prefer + noun+ to+ noun ( I prefer something to something
else) ex. I prefer this colour to the red one
I prefer + verb-ing + to + verb-ing (to express an usual action
prefered)ex. I prefer walking to going by bus to work
I prefer + to do something + rather than + do something (to
express a comparison)ex. I prefer to go to the cinema rather to
watch tv
2. In order to say what somebody wants in a particular
situation, you can use " would prefer " ( conditional tense
form)
I would prefer + noun I would prefer + to do somethingex. Would
you prefer tea or coffee ? I would prefer tea.Would you like to
walk in the park ? I would prefer to stay at home because it's too
cold.
You can use also the structure : I would prefer + to do
something+ rather than + do something to express a choice and a
comparison.ex. I would prefer to stay at home rather than go
shopping now.An another form is possible to express the same
subject.Would rather + do something ( without " to " before the
verb) = Would prefer to do somethingex. Shall we go by train ? I
would prefer to go by carI would rather go by carIn the negative
form : " would rather not (do something) "ex. I would rather not go
out this eveningIn the comparative form to give more explanations
about the preference : " would rather do something + than + do
something else "ex. I would rather stay at home than go out this
evening3. When you want somebody to do something : you prefer
someone else to do something, you can use " would rather ".
I would rather + somebody else ( noun or pronoun) + did ( past
form) + something ex. I would rather cook nowI would rather you
cooked now (instead of me)The negative form : I would rather +
somebody else + did not + somethingex. I would rather you did not
cook nowWe use the past but the meaning is present or future.To
express past or future with these structures, the sequences of
tenses is used.EXERCISES Write sentences using " I prefer "
(something) " to " ( something else).Put the verb into the correct
form where necessary. 1.( drive / travel by train ) I prefer2.(
tennis / football ) I prefer.3.( go to the cinema / watch films on
TV) I prefer
Write sentences using " I would prefer " or " I would rather
"
Eat at home/ listen to some music/ wait till laterGet a taxi/
standGo alone/think about it for a whileGo for a swim/ wait a few
minutes
Answer the following questions with your own preferences
1. Shall we walk home ? ( prefer)..2. Do you want to eat now ? (
rather) .3. Shall we watch TV ? ( prefer) 4. What about a game of
tennis ? ( rather) 5. Shall we leave now ? (rather) 6. Do you want
to go to a restaurant ? ( prefer) 7. I think we should decide now ?
( rather) 8. Would you like to sit down ? ( prefer) 9. Do you want
me to come with you ? ( prefer)
Now write sentences using the comparative form with " would
prefer " or " would rather " and " than " or " rather than "
10. ( get a taxi / walk home) I' d prefer11. ( go for a swim /
play tennis) I' d rather12. ( wait a few minutes / leave now) I' d
rather..13. ( eat at home / go to a restaurant ) I' d prefer14. (
think about it for a while / decide now) I' d rather
ADVICE
SHOULD, OUGHT TO or HAD BETTER?
Key
Should and ought to have the same meaning.They are used to give
advice, or say what is the right thing to do.Had better (or 'd
better) has also the same meaning, but it's stronger.
should, ought toYou should (or ought to) call your friend to
thank her.You shouldn't (or oughtn't to) tell lies.
had betterIt's raining, you'd better take your umbrella.I have a
very important meeting at 8, I had better not be late!
PREFERENCE
"Had Better and Would Rather" Exercise at Auto-English
Fill the gaps with had/'d better or would/'d rather.
1
It's getting dark. We_______________ go back now.
2
A: Can I borrow your car?
B: You_______________ not!
3
A: Can I borrow your camera?
B: I_______________ you didn't.
4
You know, I_______________ you didn't smoke in front of the
kids.
5
You_______________ take insect repellant if you're camping near
a lake.
6
I_______________ go to Altea than bloody Benidorm any day.
7
We_______________ you didn't hang out with Craig. He's bad
news.
8
They_______________ have everything ready for when our clients
arrive or I'll skin them alive.
9
I_______________ not drink on Friday or I won't be in a fit
state for the journey.
10
You_______________ take a bit of time to think this one over
carefully.
11
You_______________ not breathe a word about this to David.
12
A: Mike, I_______________ you didn't wear jeans in the
office.
B: Craig, I'd rather you weren't my boss!
