Would Rather

You can use "prefer to (do)" or "prefer -ing" to say what you prefer in general: I don't like cities. I prefer to live in the country OR I prefer livingin the country. Study the differences in structure after prefer. We say:

I prefer something to something else. I prefer to do something rather than (do) something else. I prefer doing something to doing something else.

I prefer this coat to the coat you were wearing yesterday. I prefer driving to traveling by train. but I prefer to drive rather than travel by train. Ann prefers to live in the country rather than (live) in a city.

Would prefer (I'd prefer...)

We use "would prefer" to say what somebody wants in a particular situation (not in general): "Would you prefer tea or coffee" "Coffee, please." We say "would prefer to do" (not "doing"): "Shall we go by train?" "Well, I'd prefer to go by car. (not "I'd prefer going") I'd prefer to stay at home tonight rather than go to the cinema.

Would rather (I'd rather...)

Would rather (do) = would prefer (to do). After would rather we use the infinitive without to. Compare: "Shall we go by train?" "I'd prefer to go by car." "I'd rather go by car. (not to go)

"Would you rather have tea or coffee" "Coffee, please." The negative is "I'd rather not (do something)": I'm tired. I'd rather not go out this evening, if you don't mind. "Do you want to go out this evening" "I'd rather not." Study the structure after would rather: I'd rather do something than (do) something else.

I'd rather stay at home tonight than go to the cinema.

I'd rather you did something

When you want somebody to do something, you can say "I'd rather you did something": "Shall I stay here?" "I'd rather you came with us." "Shall I tell them the news?" "No. I'd rather they didn't know." "Shall I tell them or would you rather they didn't know?"

In this structure we use the past (came, did etc.), but the meaning is present or future, not past. Compare: I'd rather cook the dinner now. but I'd rather you cooked the dinner now. (not "I'd rather you cook") The negative is "I'd rather you didn't...": I'd rather you didn't tell anyone what I said. "Do you mind if I smoke?" "I'd rather you didn't."

Would rather is used to express a preference in English. Would rather is the same in meaning as would prefer. These two phrases are used interchangeably to express a preference when making a choice. Here are some examples of short conversations that use would rather to either state or ask for a preference. Example Dialogues John: Let's go out tonight. Mary: That's a good idea. John: How about going to a film? There's a new film out with Tom Hanks. Mary: I'd rather go out for dinner. I'm hungry! Sue: I'm not sure which topic to choose for my essay. Debby: Well, what are your choices? Sue: I can write about the economy or about a book. Debby: Which would you rather write about? Would Rather - Structure The form would rather is a little strange because 'rather' is not a verb but is part of an expression that means 'would prefer to'. 'Rather' is usually immediately followed by a verb in base form (verb without 'to'). It's common to use would rather in the shortened 'd rather form in positive statements. All subjects take 'would rather'. Would rather can be used to refer to the present moment or a future moment in time. Positive Subject + would rather ('d rather) + base form of verb Peter'd rather spend time on the beach. I would rather learn a new language than study math. Question Would + subject + rather + base form of verb Would you rather stay at home? Would they rather do homework tomorrow morning? Would Rather - Than Would rather is often used with 'than' with two verbs or objects when making a choice between two specific actions. Would you rather work for Tom than for Mary? She would rather play tennis than go horseback riding. Would Rather - For Other People Would rather is also used to express what one person prefers another person to do. The structure is unusual because it takes the past for the preferred action. Here are some examples: Tom would rather Mary bought a SUV. Would you rather she stayed here with us?

Positive Subject + would rather ('d rather) + object + past tense I would rather my son worked in finance. Susan would rather Peter took a plane. Question Would + subject + rather + object + past tense Would she rather her sister flew home tomorrow? Would you rather he came with us to the meeting? Positive Subject + would rather ('d rather) + object + negative past tense I'd rather she didn't come with us today. Tim would rather Peter didn't join the company. Related Phrases

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Comparison of adjectives
Adjectives - Comparison - Exercise 1 Exercise 2 Exercise 3 Adjectives - Comparison in sentences - Exercise 1 Exercise 2 Adjectives - Comparison with -er and -est - Exercise 1 Exercise 2 Adjectives - Words randomly selected - Exercise 1 Exercise 2 Exercise 3 There are three forms of comparison: - positive - comparative - superlative

A - Comparison with -er/-est

clean - cleaner - (the) cleanest We use -er/-est with the following adjectives: 1) adjectives with one syllable clean new cheap cleaner newer cheaper cleanest newest cheapest

2) adjectives with two syllables and the following endings: 2 - 1) adjectives with two syllables, ending in -y dirty easy happy pretty dirtier easier happier prettier dirtiest easiest happiest prettiest

2 - 2) adjectives with two syllables, ending in -er clever cleverer cleverest

2 - 3) adjectives with two syllables, ending in -le simple simpler simplest

2 - 4) adjectives with two syllables, ending in -ow narrow narrower narrowest

Spelling of the adjectives using the endings -er/-est

large big sad dirty larger bigger sadder dirtier largest biggest Double the consonant after short vowel saddest dirtiest Change -y to -i (consonant before -y) leave out the silent -e

shy

shyer

shyest

Here -y is not changed to -i. (although consonant before -y)

B - Comparison with more - most difficult - more difficult - (the) most difficult all adjectives with more than one syllable (except some adjectives with two syllables - see 2 - 1 to 2 - 4)

C - Irregular adjectives good bad much many little little better worse more more less smaller best worst most most least smallest uncountable nouns countable nouns

D - Special adjectives Some ajdectives have two possible forms of comparison. common likely pleasant polite simple commoner / more common likelier / more likely pleasanter / more pleasant politer / more polite simpler / more simple commonest / most common likeliest / most likely pleasantest / most pleasant politest / most polite simplest / most simple

stupid subtle sure

stupider / more stupid subtler / more subtle surer / more sure

stupidest / most stupid subtlest surest / most sure

Difference in meaning with adjectives: farther far further furthest farthest distance distance or time

later late latter x older old elder nearer near x

latest x last oldest eldest nearest next people and things people (family) distance order

COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES FORMING THE COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE

Number of syllables one syllable tall Comparative + -er taller Superlative + -est tallest

one syllable with the spelling consonant + single vowel + consonant: double the final consonant: fat fatter fattest

big sad

bigger sadder

biggest saddest

Number of syllables two syllables

Comparative + -er OR more + adj

Superlative + -est OR most + adj

ending in: -y, -ly, -ow ending in: -le, -er or -ure these common adjectives - handsome, polite, pleasant, common, quiet happy yellow simple tender happier/ more happy yellower/ more yellow simpler/ more simple tenderer/ more tender happiest/ most happy yellowest/ most yellow simplest/ most simple tenderest/ most tender

If you are not sure, use MORE + OR MOST + Note: Adjectives ending in '-y' like happy, pretty, busy, sunny, lucky etc:. replace the-y with -ier or -iest in the comparative and superlative form

busy

busier

busiest

Number of syllables three syllables or more important expensive

Comparative more + adj more important more expensive

Superlative most + adj most important most expensive

Examples: a. A cat is fast, a tiger is faster but a cheetah is the fastest b. A car is heavy, a truck is heavier, but a train is the heaviest c. A park bench is comfortable, a restaurant chair is more comfortable, but a sofa is the most comfortable THE + SUPERLATIVE
'the' is placed before the superlative:
For example:

He is the richest man in the world. That is the biggest crocodile I have ever seen. She is the tallest girl in her class.

COMPARATIVE + THAN
To compare the difference between two people, things or events. Examples: Mt. Everest is higher than Mt. Blanc. Thailand is sunnier than Norway. A car is more expensive than a bicycle. Albert is more intelligent than Arthur.

AS + ADJECTIVE + AS
To compare people, places, events or things, when there is no difference, use as + adjective + as: Peter is 24 years old. John is 24 years old. Peter is as old asJohn.

More examples: Moscow is as cold as St. Petersburg in the winter. Ramona is as happy as Raphael. Einstein is as famous as Darwin. A tiger is as dangerous as a lion.

NOT AS + ADJECTIVE + AS
Difference can also be shown by using not so/as ...as: Mont Blanc is not as high as Mount Everest Norway is not as sunny as Thailand A bicycle is not as expensive as a car Arthur is not as intelligent as Albert

COMPARISONS OF QUANTITY To show difference: more, less, fewer + than To show no difference: as much as , as many as, as few as, as little as

COMPARISONS OF QUANTITY
To show difference: more, less, fewer + than Examples:

With countable nouns: more / fewer Eloise has more children than Chantal. Chantal has fewer children than Eloise. There are fewer dogs in Cardiff than in Bristol I have visited fewer countries than my friend has. He has read fewer books than she has.

With uncountable nouns: more / less So, the rule is: MORE + nouns that are countable or uncountable FEWER + countable nouns LESS + uncountable nouns Eloise has more money than Chantal. Chantal has less money than Eloise. I spend less time on homework than you do. Cats drink less water than dogs. This new dictionary gives more information thanthe old one.

COMPARISONS OF QUANTITY
To show no difference: as much as , as many as, as few as, as little as

as many as / as few as + countable nouns as much as / as little as + uncountable nouns

Examples: With countable nouns: They have as many children as us. We have as many customers as them. Tom has as few books as Jane. There are as few houses in his village as in mine. You know as many people as I do. I have visited the States as many times as he has.

With uncountable nouns: John eats as much food as Peter. Jim has as little food as Sam. You've heard as much news as I have. He's had as much success as his brother has. They've got as little water as we have.

English Grammar Secrets

Had better
We use had better plus the infinitive without to to give advice. Although had is the past form of have, we use had better to give advice about the present or future.

You'd better tell her everything. I'd better get back to work. We'd better meet early.

The negative form is had better not.

You'd better not say anything. I'd better not come. We'd better not miss the start of his presentation.

We use had better to give advice about specific situations, not general ones. If you want to talk about general situations, you must use should.

You should brush your teeth before you go to bed. I shouldn't listen to negative people. He should dress more appropriately for the office.

When we give advice about specific situations, it is also possible to use should.

You shouldn't say anything. I should get back to work. We should meet early.

However, when we use had better there is a suggestion that if the advice is not followed, that something bad will happen.

You'd better do what I say or else you will get into trouble. I'd better get back to work or my boss will be angry with me. We'd better get to the airport by five or else we may miss the flight.

Had Better
"Had better" is most commonly used to make recommendations. It can also be used to express desperate hope as well as warn people. Examples:

You had better take your umbrella with you today. RECOMMENDATION That bus had better get here soon! DESPERATE HOPE You had better watch the way you talk to me in the future! WARNING

Using "Had Better" in Present, Past, and Future Most modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. Study the chart below to learn how "had better" behaves in different contexts. Use Positive Forms 1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future Negative Forms 1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future You can also use:

had better
RECOMMENDATION

1. SHIFT TO "SHOULD" OR "OUGHT TO" People should unplug toasters before they clean them. 2. SHIFT TO "SHOULD HAVE" OR "OUGHT TO HAVE" You should have unplugged the toaster before you tried to clean it. 3. You had better unplug the toaster before you try to clean it.

1. SHIFT TO "SHOULD" OR "OUGHT TO" People shouldn't clean toasters without unplugging them first. 2. SHIFT TO "SHOULD HAVE" OR "OUGHT TO HAVE" You shouldn't have cleaned the toaster without unplugging it first. 3. You had better not clean the toaster until you unplug it. They had better not be late. They had better not forget Tom's birthday gift.
DESPERATE HOPES AND WARNINGS
USUALLY REFER TO THE NEAR FUTURE.

should, ought to

had better
DESPERATE HOPE, WARNING

The movie had better end soon. They had better be here before we start dinner.
DESPERATE HOPES AND WARNINGS
USUALLY REFER TO THE NEAR FUTURE.