grammar · neutral

Would rather + (someone) + past simple

Band 6-7speakingtask2

Expresses a preference about what someone does (often someone else). Use past simple after 'would rather' for present/future preferences; use 'would rather have + past participle' for past regrets.

Examples

“I would rather you didn't smoke in my house.”

“She would rather he came earlier tomorrow.”

“They would rather you had told them the truth.”

Band 8 sentence

“Given the noise in the neighbourhood, I'd rather my neighbours kept their parties earlier in the evening.”

Collocations

  • would rather + you/he/she/we + past simple
  • would rather + have + past participle

Common mistakes

I would rather him go now.→I would rather he went now.

I would rather him to go now.→I would rather he went now.

Say it for a higher band

5want someone to + V→6would like someone to + V→7+Would rather + (someone) + past simple

Synonyms

would like someone to + V

Easily confused

prefer + V-ing/to + V

“I prefer travelling by train to travelling by plane.”

Related words

By the time + clause, clauseWhether + clause (or not)So + adjective + that + clauseEven if + clause, clauseSuch + (a/an) + noun + that + clauseIf + past perfect, would have + past participleOn the one hand + clause; on the other hand + clauseGiven that + clause, + clause

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In Complex sentences

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