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.
_____________________________________________________________________________
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.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Working from home or from the office ?

Travelling by car or by public transport ?
Going to the cinema or to the theatre ?
Meat of fish as a main course ?
Winter fashion or summer fashion ?
Reading or watching television ?
A dog or a cat ?
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 something
ex. 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
something
ex. Shall we go by train ? I would prefer to go by car
I would rather go by car
In the negative form : " would rather not (do something) "
ex. I would rather not go out this evening
In 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 evening

3. 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 now
I would rather you cooked now (instead of me)
The negative form : I would rather + somebody else + did not + something
ex. I would rather you did not cook now
We 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 prefer
2.( 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 later
Get a taxi/ stand
Go alone/think about it for a while
Go 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 prefer
11. ( go for a swim / play tennis) I' d rather
12. ( wait a few minutes / leave now) I' d rather..

13. ( eat at home / go to a restaurant ) I' d prefer

14. ( 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 to
You should (or ought to) call your friend to thank her.
You shouldn't (or oughtn't to) tell lies.

had better
It'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!