Would rather (often contracted to 'd rather) expresses a preference for one action over another. When the preference is about the speaker's own action, it is followed by the bare infinitive. When it is about someone else's action, it is followed by a subject + past simple verb, even though the meaning is present or future, not past.
- I'd rather stay home tonight than go to the party. (my own preference)
- Would you rather have tea or coffee? (asking about a preference)
- I'd rather you called me before you visit. (a preference about someone else's action)
- She'd rather not talk about it right now. (negative preference)
- We'd rather walk than take the bus. (comparing two options)
- I'd rather you didn't tell anyone. (a preference about what someone else should not do)
Formation: Own Preference
When "would rather" refers to the speaker's own action, it is followed directly by a bare infinitive (the verb with no "to"), and "than" introduces the rejected alternative.
- I'd rather watch a film than read a book.
- Negative: I'd rather not go out tonight.
- Question: Would you rather leave now or wait for the rain to stop?
Formation: Someone Else's Action
When the preference concerns another person's action, "would rather" is followed by a subject and a verb in the past simple, which here has a present or future meaning rather than a past one. This is similar to the unreal past used after "wish" and "if only."
- I'd rather you didn't smoke in the house. (not "I'd rather you don't smoke")
- She'd rather he called before dropping by.
- We'd rather they arrived earlier next time.
The negative in this structure is formed with the past simple negative, not with "not" directly after "rather": I'd rather you didn't wait for me, not I'd rather you not wait for me in careful usage, although the latter is sometimes heard informally.
Would Rather vs Prefer
"Would rather" and "would prefer" express similar meanings, but their grammar differs. "Would prefer" is followed by a "to" infinitive: I'd prefer to stay home, while "would rather" takes the bare infinitive: I'd rather stay home. When comparing two options, "would prefer" uses "rather than": I'd prefer to walk rather than drive, while "would rather" simply uses "than": I'd rather walk than drive.
Summary Table
| Structure | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
would rather + bare infinitive | own preference | I'd rather stay in. |
would rather not + bare infinitive | own negative preference | I'd rather not stay in. |
would rather + subject + past simple | preference about someone else | I'd rather you stayed in. |
would rather + subject + didn't | negative preference about someone else | I'd rather you didn't stay in. |
Tip: If the sentence has a second subject after "would rather" (a name or a pronoun different from the speaker), switch automatically to the past simple, even though nothing about the meaning is actually in the past.
Common Mistakes
-
Using "to" after "would rather":
Incorrect: I'd rather to stay home.
Correct: I'd rather stay home. -
Using the base form instead of the past simple for someone else's action:
Incorrect: I'd rather you call me tomorrow.
Correct: I'd rather you called me tomorrow. -
Placing "not" directly after "rather" for the second-subject negative:
Unnecessary: I'd rather you not tell him.
More natural: I'd rather you didn't tell him.
Practice Exercises
Grammar Quiz
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Complete the Sentence
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Flash Cards
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Matching Pairs
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Unjumble
Reorder scrambled words into a correct sentence.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does "would rather" mean?
Would rather is used to express a preference for one action, thing, or situation over another, as in "I'd rather stay home tonight than go to the party."
What verb form follows "would rather" for your own preference?
Use the bare infinitive (no "to"), as in "I'd rather watch a film," not "I'd rather to watch a film."
What verb form follows "would rather" when talking about someone else's action?
Use subject + past simple, even though the meaning is present or future, as in "I'd rather you called me before you visit," not "I'd rather you call me."
How do you make "would rather" negative for your own action?
Add "not" directly after "rather," as in "She'd rather not talk about it right now."
How do you make "would rather" negative for someone else's action?
Use the past simple negative after the subject, as in "I'd rather you didn't tell anyone," rather than putting "not" directly after "rather."
How do you ask a question with "would rather"?
Invert "would" and the subject, as in "Would you rather have tea or coffee?"
What is the difference between "would rather" and "would prefer"?
"Would rather" is followed by a bare infinitive and uses "than" for comparison ("I'd rather walk than drive"), while "would prefer" is followed by a "to" infinitive and uses "rather than" ("I'd prefer to walk rather than drive").
Can "would rather" be contracted?
Yes, "would rather" is very commonly contracted to 'd rather in both speech and informal writing, as in "I'd rather stay in tonight."
Why does "would rather" use the past simple for other people's actions?
This mirrors the "unreal past" pattern also seen after "wish" and "if only," where a past tense form is used to talk about a present or future situation, softening the request or preference.
Is "would rather" formal or informal?
"Would rather" is neutral and used in both spoken and written English at all levels of formality, making it one of the most versatile ways to express a preference.