Would rather is used to express preference.
Like and prefer are normal verbs. They are also used to express preference.
Like and prefer are normal verbs. They are also used to express preference.
Would rather is used to express preference. If you mention the thing you like less then you have to use than.
- I would rather go to the park.
- We would rather stay home and watch a movie on TV.
- They would rather eat pizza than eat tacos.
- He would rather go out tonight than stay home.
- She would rather buy stocks than buy bonds.
Would rather not is the negative form.
- I would rather not risk my money buying stocks.
- I would rather not earn less interest by putting my money in a savings account.
In the past use would rather + present perfect or in other words: would rather (not) have + past participle
- I would rather have invested in Japan than China.
- He would rather not have walked up the steep mountain.
Introduction
Polite requests
Expressing necessity & obligation
Lack of necessity
Prohibition
Expectation
Giving advice
Making suggestions
Ability
Expressing preference
Degrees of certainty (present)
Degrees of certainty (past)
Degrees of certainty (future)
Progressive forms
Repeated past
Modal & phrasal verb combinations
Polite requests
Expressing necessity & obligation
Lack of necessity
Prohibition
Expectation
Giving advice
Making suggestions
Ability
Expressing preference
Degrees of certainty (present)
Degrees of certainty (past)
Degrees of certainty (future)
Progressive forms
Repeated past
Modal & phrasal verb combinations
This page is one of PLS's English grammar pages for people who want to learn or improve their English grammar skills.
