Would Rather
B2 · Upper IntermediateWishes & HypotheticalsI'd rather stay home. I'd rather you left. Same phrase, two different structures.
What you'll learn
- Would rather + bare infinitive (no 'to') expresses your own preference
- Would rather + subject + past simple expresses a preference about someone else's action
- Would rather...than is used to compare two options
- 'Would rather not' is the negative form for your own preference
One phrase, two structures
'Would rather' expresses a preference — but which grammatical structure follows it depends on whose action you're talking about: your own, or someone else's.
Your own preference: bare infinitive
When 'would rather' talks about your own action, it's followed by a bare infinitive — the base verb with no 'to.'
Someone else's action: past simple
When 'would rather' talks about a preference regarding what someone else does, the verb after the subject shifts to past simple — even though the meaning is about now or the future, not the past. This is the same unreal-past pattern used after 'wish.'
Would rather...than — comparing two options
To directly compare two options, use 'would rather' plus the first option, then 'than' plus the second — both in bare infinitive form.
Real English
Watch out
'Would rather' for your own preference takes a bare infinitive — never 'to.'
A preference about someone else's action needs past simple, not the present tense.
'Would rather' is followed by a bare infinitive, not an -ing form.
Real life — Making plans
"Want to grab dinner out tonight?"
"Honestly, I'd rather stay in — I'm exhausted."
"That's fine. I'd rather you rested anyway."
"Thanks for understanding."
Practice
Exercise 1 · Choose the correct sentence
Choose the correct sentence (your own preference).
Exercise 2 · Choose the correct sentence
Choose the correct sentence (a preference about someone else's action).
Exercise 3 · Choose the correct sentence
Choose the correct sentence (comparing two options).
Exercise 4 · Choose the correct sentence
Choose the correct sentence (own preference).
Exercise 5 · Choose the correct sentence
Choose the correct sentence (preference about someone else).
Exercise 6 · Choose the correct structure
Which structure is used for talking about YOUR OWN preference?
Exercise 7 · Choose the correct structure
Which structure is used for a preference about SOMEONE ELSE's action?
Exercise 8 · Choose the correct sentence
Choose the correct sentence.
Exercise 9 · Rewrite using 'would rather'
Rewrite as your own preference: 'I prefer to eat at home rather than eat out.'
Exercise 10 · Rewrite using 'would rather'
Rewrite as a preference about someone else's action: 'I want you to call me first.'
Exercise 11 · Sort into groups
0 / 4 sorted
Quick challenge
Five quick questions to check what stuck.
Question 1 / 5
Score: 0/0
Choose the correct sentence.
You learned
- Would rather + bare infinitive expresses your own preference.
- Would rather + subject + past simple expresses a preference about someone else's action.
- Would rather...than compares two options.
- 'Would rather not' is the negative form for your own preference.
Related grammar lessons
It's Time
Learn how 'it's time' takes a past-simple verb even though it means now or the near future, plus the 'it's time for someone to' alternative.
As If / As Though
Learn how 'as if' and 'as though' shift the verb into the past to signal an unreal or imagined comparison — present or past.
If Only
Learn how 'if only' works like 'wish' but sounds more emphatic and emotional, often standing alone as an exclamation.
Wish
Learn how to use 'wish' to talk about a present wish, a past regret, or a complaint about someone's behavior.