The phrase Would Rather is a crucial component of advanced English, particularly in formal and competitive exam contexts. Many CSS, PMS, and professional candidates struggle with its correct application.

As an English instructor with over 11 years of experience, I have observed that many CSS, PMS, and competitive exam aspirants face struggle with the correct use of “Would Rather.” This phrase plays a crucial role in advanced English, particularly when articulating preferences in formal and informal contexts. In this guide, I will comprehensively explain its meaning, structure, and correct application with clear examples, ensuring aspirants can use it accurately in their exams and professional communication.

What Does “Would Rather” Mean?

The phrase “Would rather” is a modal auxiliary verb used to express a preference between two or more options. It functions similarly to “prefer,” but it is more commonly used in spoken and informal written English. In simple words, just think of “would rather” as a way to indicate what you like more in a given situation. It helps in making comparisons and expressing choices.

Example

• I would rather eat meat tonight.

In this sentence ‘would rather’ means ‘would prefer’. You could also say I would prefer to eat meat today.

Structure of “Would Rather”

The basic structure of “would rather” follows this pattern:

• Subject + would rather + base verb (V1) + than + base verb (V1) + other elements

Examples

1. I would rather have coffee than tea.
   (I prefer coffee over tea.)
2. He would rather stay home than go out.
   (He prefers staying at home instead of going out.)
3. My students would rather study at night than in the morning.
   (They prefer studying at night instead of in the morning.)

Other Structures of “Would Rather”

The structure of “would rather” depends on whether it refers to the same subject or a different subject in the sentence.

1. “Would Rather” (with the Same Subject)

When the subject remains the same, the verb that follows is always in the base form (also called the bare infinitive), meaning it does not take “to.”

Structure

• Subject + would rather + base verb (without “to”) + other elements

Examples

1. I would rather take the exam.
   (I prefer taking the exam.)
2. She would rather visit the mountains.
   (She prefers visiting the mountains.)
3. They would rather not waste time on social media.
   (They prefer avoiding social media instead of wasting time on it.)
4. He would rather read a novel.
   (He prefers reading a novel.)
5. We would rather stay indoors during the storm.
   (We prefer staying indoors instead of going outside during the storm.)
6. She would rather drink tea than coffee.
   (She prefers drinking tea instead of coffee.)
7. I would rather walk to work than take the bus.
   (I prefer walking to work instead of taking the bus.)
8. He would rather study alone than in a group.
   (He prefers studying alone instead of studying in a group.)
9. He would rather watch a movie than read a book.
   (He prefers watching a movie instead of reading a book.)
10. They would rather travel in summer than in winter.
    (They prefer traveling in summer instead of winter.)

2. “Would Rather” (with a Different Subject)

When referring to another person’s actions, we use the past simple after “would rather,” even though the meaning is present or future.

Structure

• Subject + would rather + subject + past simple + other elements

Examples

1. I would rather you went home now.
   (I prefer that you go home now.)
2. My teacher would rather we practiced more.
   (My teacher prefers that we practice more.)
3. They would rather we spoke in English.
   (They prefer that we speak in English.)
4. He would rather she apologized first.
   (He prefers that she apologizes first.)
5. We would rather you didn’t interrupt the meeting.
   (We prefer that you do not interrupt the meeting.)

3. “Would Rather” with the Same Subject (Past Preference)

When we use “would rather + have + past participle”, we want to talk about our preferences in the past. Remember, this structure is used when we are talking about a past situation and wish that something different had happened. It often implies regret or a preference for an alternative past action.

Structure

• Subject + would rather + have + past participle

Examples

1. They would rather have stayed at home yesterday.
   (They regret not staying at home.)
2. He would rather have taken the earlier flight.
   (He wishes he had taken the earlier flight instead of the later one.)
3. We would rather have studied harder for the exam.
   (We regret not studying harder.)
4. She would rather have spoken the truth.
   (She regrets not telling the truth.)

4. “Would Rather” with a Different Subject (Past Preference)

If we want to talk about the preference of another person’s past action, we use “would rather + subject + past perfect” (had + past participle).

Structure

• Subject + would rather + (that) + another subject + past perfect

Examples

1. I would rather you had studied for the test.
   (I preferred that you studied for the test, but you didn’t.)
2. He would rather they had invited him to the party.
   (He wished they had invited him, but they didn’t.)
3. She would rather you hadn’t spent so much money.
   (She preferred that you didn’t spend too much money, but you did.)
4. We would rather she had arrived on time.
   (We preferred that she arrived on time, but she was late.)
5. They would rather we hadn’t argued about it.
   (They preferred that we didn’t argue, but we did.)

Practice Questions

1. I would rather to stay home than go out.
2. She would rather prefers coffee over tea.
3. They would rather that he goes early.
4. I would rather you go now.
5. She would rather had taken a taxi.
6. We would rather if you come with us.
7. He would rather to not discuss the matter.
8. I would rather that she will be honest with me.
9. Would you rather to study or watch TV?
10. They would rather that she comes late.
11. He would rather not to say anything.
12. I would rather he stays at home.
13. We would rather he doesn’t makes that mistake.
14. Would rather you eat at home or outside?
15. She would rather be go alone.
16. I would rather he had tell the truth.
17. They would rather have went by train.
18. I would rather that she takes my advice.
19. He would rather had studied harder.
20. Would rather she had told you earlier?
21. They would rather to be left alone.
22. I would rather you had not made that decision.
23. She would rather had been there.
24. I would rather my parents allows me to travel.
25. We would rather you had came earlier.
26. She would rather her brother drives carefully.
27. He would rather you does not interfere.
28. I would rather be to informed in advance.
29. They would rather we had finish the project earlier.
30. She would rather that you goes with her.
31. I would rather not had taken that job.
32. They would rather you does not talk about it.
33. We would rather he had accepted the offer.
34. I would rather they gives me another chance.
35. She would rather he had apologizes immediately.
36. They would rather us to not discuss the issue.
37. I would rather you leave now than later.
38. Would he rather that she does not tell the truth?
39. He would rather he will be promoted soon.
40. I would rather that she didn’t to complain.
41. Would you rather that she tells you the truth?
42. She would rather that I will do it now.
43. He would rather you should stay here.
44. I would rather they had knew the truth.
45. She would rather he should had apologized.
46. He would rather his father to understand him.
47. Would you rather I am honest or polite?
48. We would rather that he doesn’t argues.
49. I would rather he would explain his reasons.
50. They would rather her be quiet.

Answers

1. I would rather stay home than go out.
2. She would rather have coffee over tea.
3. They would rather that he went early.
4. I would rather you went now.
5. She would rather have taken a taxi.
6. We would rather you came with us.
7. He would rather not discuss the matter.
8. I would rather that she were honest with me.
9. Would you rather study or watch TV?
10. They would rather that she came late.
11. He would rather not say anything.
12. I would rather he stayed at home.
13. We would rather he didn’t make that mistake.
14. Would you rather eat at home or outside?
15. She would rather go alone.
16. I would rather he had told the truth.
17. They would rather have gone by train.
18. I would rather that she took my advice.
19. He would rather have studied harder.
20. Would she rather have told you earlier?
21. They would rather be left alone.
22. I would rather you had not made that decision.
23. She would rather have been there.
24. I would rather my parents allowed me to travel.
25. We would rather you had come earlier.
26. She would rather her brother drove carefully.
27. He would rather you did not interfere.
28. I would rather be informed in advance.
29. They would rather we had finished the project earlier.
30. She would rather that you went with her.
31. I would rather not have taken that job.
32. They would rather you did not talk about it.
33. We would rather he had accepted the offer.
34. I would rather they gave me another chance.
35. She would rather he had apologized immediately.
36. They would rather not discuss the issue.
37. I would rather you left now than later.
38. Would he rather that she did not tell the truth?
39. He would rather he were promoted soon.
40. I would rather that she didn’t complain.
41. Would you rather that she told you the truth?
42. She would rather that I did it now.
43. He would rather you stayed here.
44. I would rather they had known the truth.
45. She would rather he had apologized.
46. He would rather his father understood him.
47. Would you rather I were honest or polite?
48. We would rather that he didn’t argue.
49. I would rather he explained his reasons.
50. They would rather she were quiet.