We often usewould rather to say that we would prefer another person to do something. Past tenses are used.
Study the example given below.
I would like you to help him.
We can express the same idea using would rather.
I would rather you helped him.
1I would rather you ............... home now.
Wrong!
After "would rather" plus a different subject, use the past simple for a present preference, so the correct answer is "went".
2I would prefer to go in December ............... in May.
Wrong!
Use "rather than" to compare the preferred time with the alternative.
3I prefer starting early rather than ............... everything to the last minute.
Wrong!
After "prefer" plus an -ing form, use another -ing form after "rather than", so the correct answer is "leaving".
4I prefer to walk ............... drive.
Wrong!
Use "rather than" between the preferred action and the alternative action.
5I would rather you ............... in a hostel than in a hotel.
Wrong!
After "would rather" plus a different subject, use the past simple for a present preference, so the correct answer is "stayed".
6I would rather you ............... a job.
Wrong!
After "would rather" plus a different subject, use the past simple for a present preference, so the correct answer is "found".
7He ............... face the enemy than surrender.
Wrong!
Use "would rather" before the base verb to express a preference.
8They would rather build a new house ............... repair the old one.
Wrong!
The structure is "would rather" plus base verb plus "than" plus base verb, so the correct answer is "than".
9We would rather you ............... to bed now.
Wrong!
After "would rather" plus a different subject, use the past simple for a present preference, so the correct answer is "went".
10We would rather you ............... the work yourself next time.
Wrong!
After "would rather" plus a different subject, use the past simple for a present or future preference, so the correct answer is "did".
Exercise complete
0 out of 10
correct answers
Answers
- I would rather you went home now.
- I would prefer to go in December rather than in May.
- I prefer starting early rather than leaving everything to the last minute.
- I prefer to walk rather than drive.
- I would rather you stayed in a hostel than in a hotel.
- I would rather you found a job.
- He would rather face the enemy than surrender.
- They would rather build a new house than repair the old one.
- We would rather you went to bed now.
- We would rather you did the work yourself next time.