Grammar
Would rather: state a preference
The cafe is full, and you want to sit outside. You can say, I'd rather sit on the patio.
Use would rather with the right verb pattern to state your preference, ask about a choice, or say what you want another person to do.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
I'd rather take the train today. /aɪd ˈrɑːðə teɪk ðə treɪn təˈdeɪ/
The short answer
Use would rather plus a base verb to say what you prefer. Say I'd rather walk, we'd rather stay, or would you rather wait?
I'd rather take the bus than wait in the rain.
Why it works: Rather comes before the base verb take. The sentence compares two choices.
5 more examples
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I'd rather walk home after the concert.
Walk is the base verb after would rather.
Not this:I'd
rather walkedhome after the concert. What changes: Do not use the past form walked when the same person has the preference and does the action. -
We'd rather not leave before the show ends.
Not comes before the base verb leave to make the preference negative.
Not this:We'd
rather don't leavebefore the show ends. What changes: Do not use don't after rather. Put not directly before the base verb. -
Would you rather meet on Tuesday or Wednesday?
Put would before you to ask about a preference.
Not this:
Do you rather meeton Tuesday or Wednesday? What changes: Do does not make this question. Use would at the beginning. -
I'd rather you stayed for dinner.
Stayed refers to another person's action, so this pattern uses a past form.
Not this:I'd
rather you stayfor dinner. What changes: For this preference about another person, use stayed after you. -
I prefer tea, but I'd rather drink coffee this morning.
Prefer describes a general taste here. Would rather names the choice for this morning.
Not this:I prefer tea, but I'd
rather drinkingcoffee this morning. What changes: Use the base verb drink after would rather, not the -ing form.
Read the full guide
First, name the choice you want to make. Then put would rather before the action: I'd rather leave now. The word after rather stays in its base form, even when the subject is he, she, or it.
Start with your choice
You are choosing how to get home after work. Use would rather to state the action you want: I'd rather take the train. The phrase can stand alone when the other choice is already clear.
I'd rather cook at home tonight.
The speaker states one choice for tonight.
Your friends suggest a movie, but you want a quiet evening. How can you state your preference?
Say, 'I'd rather stay home tonight.' Would rather introduces the action you prefer.
Use a base verb
After would rather, use the base verb. The form does not change for he, she, or it. You can say she'd rather leave early, not she'd rather leaves early.
Omar would rather wait near the entrance.
Wait is the base verb after would rather.
Choose the right form: 'Nina would rather goes now' or 'Nina would rather go now.'
Use 'Nina would rather go now.' Go stays in the base form after rather.
Make negatives and questions
At the restaurant, you may want to refuse one option or ask a friend to choose. Add not before the base verb for a negative. Start with would for a question.
She'd rather not sit near the door.
Not comes before sit, so the speaker says which option she does not want.
Would they rather eat now or later?
Would comes first because the speaker is asking about their preference.
How do you ask a friend which seat they want?
Ask, 'Would you rather sit here or there?' Use would before the subject.
Name another person
You may want someone else to choose an action. After would rather plus another subject, use a past form. The past form shows the pattern. It does not mean the action happened yesterday.
I'd rather Maya called before she visits.
Maya is the other subject, so called follows her name.
He'd rather we took the later bus.
Took shows the usual pattern for a preference about what we do.
Complete the sentence: 'I'd rather you ____ me the address.'
Use sent: 'I'd rather you sent me the address.' The action belongs to you, not to I.
Compare prefer and rather
At a coffee shop, you might talk about what you usually like and what you want today. Prefer often describes a general taste. Would rather often points to one choice in a particular situation.
I prefer coffee, but I'd rather have tea today.
Prefer names the general taste. Would rather gives the choice for today.
Which phrase fits a choice for this afternoon: 'I prefer stay home' or 'I'd rather stay home'?
Use 'I'd rather stay home.' Would rather plus a base verb states a choice for one situation.
Before you go
Remember this
Use would rather plus a base verb for your own choice: I'd rather stay. Add not for a negative, and move would before the subject for a question. When you name another person, use a past form: I'd rather she stayed.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Would rather: state a preference"
What does would rather mean?
Would rather means prefer in a particular choice or situation. You can say, I'd rather walk home, when walking is the option you want. It can compare two actions, but you can also use it when the other option is clear from the conversation.
I'd rather walk home after the concert.
What verb form comes after would rather?
Use the base form after would rather: I'd rather go, she'd rather wait, and would you rather leave? Do not add to, -s, or -ing directly after rather. The base form stays the same with every subject.
I'd rather walked home after the concert.
How do I make would rather negative?
Put not before the base verb: I'd rather not drive, and we'd rather not stay late. Do not use don't after rather. The negative word belongs between rather and the action you do not prefer.
We'd rather not leave before the show ends.
How do I ask a question with would rather?
Put would before the subject: Would you rather eat inside or outside? The verb after rather stays in the base form. This question asks which option the listener prefers in that situation.
We'd rather don't leave before the show ends.
Why do I use a past form after another subject?
Use a past form when the preference is about another person's action: I'd rather you stayed, or she'd rather he called first. The past form is part of this pattern. It does not mean that the preferred action happened in the past.
Would you rather meet on Tuesday or Wednesday?