Would rather / Rather

Would rather / Rather

1. WOULD RATHER

   • to talk about the present or future + PAST SIMPLE
     • I´d rather you didn´t go to the disco tonight
   • To talk about the past + PAST PERFECT
     • She´d rather they had gone to an Italian restaurant
   • To talk about the present and future + BARE INFINITIVE
     • The Government would rather not give out too many benefits to young people
       • Don´t confuse this phrase with "had better", which means "should".

2. RATHER

   • AS AN ADVERB = quite
     • Before a verb of thought or feeling = to express an opinion politely
       • I rather think his recent success has gone to his head I rather like your hair cut short
     • Some comediants are quite direct and indeed rather rude to their audiences Helen´s humour is rather surreal at times
   • WITH WOULD = prefer
     • John says he´d rather not come with us, as he´s very tired I´d rather go to a live show than watch a video
   • PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE = to contrast
     • The jokes were about society in general rather than being purely political Rather than stay at home, he got changed and went off to the party