What is the difference between would and rather?
When we speak about a specific preference, would rather and would prefer have the same meaning and are interchangeable. We went to the theatre yesterday. Today I would rather go to the cinema. We went to the theatre yesterday.
used to indicate what one wants or prefers to do, have, etc. She would rather drive than take the train. I would rather you didn't tell them. "If you'd rather, we can go outside." "No, thanks—I'd rather not."Which beach would you rather go to?
Prefer and would rather can be used interchangeably. As you indicate, Omar, when we are talking about general preferences, prefer is followed by verb-ing, thus: I prefer listening to music to watching TV. I'd rather listen to music than watch TV.
— used to indicate what you want or prefer to do, have, etc. She would rather drive than take the train. “If you'd rather, we can go outside.” “No, thanks—I'd rather not.”
I would rather ('I prefer', 'I would prefer') is used as a modal auxiliary verb. It is followed by the infinitive (without 'to') when its subject is the same as the subject of the next verb. This happens when we talk about what we would prefer to do. I would rather (or I'd rather) stay with you.
(The subjects are underlined in the examples.) I'd rather stay at home than go out tonight. I'd rather you stayed at home tonight. I'd rather not go out tonight.
If you say that you would rather do something or you' d rather do it, you mean that you would prefer to do it. If you say that you would rather not do something, you mean that you do not want to do it.
| like | prefer |
|---|---|
| desire | want |
| choose | crave |
| fancy | favorUS |
| favourUK | love |
Would you rather have more time or more money? Would you rather have a rewind button or a pause button on your life? Would you rather be able to talk with the animals or speak all foreign languages? Would you rather win the lottery or live twice as long?
(rather than/instead of)
We use prefer/would prefer + noun or to + infinitive to talk about specific preference, i.e. what we prefer on a specific occasion. I would prefer to stay in a hotel near the airport. (or I would rather stay…)
What does it mean to say rather?
rather adverb (PREFERENCE)
instead of; used especially when you prefer one thing to another: I think I'd like to stay home this evening rather than go out. More examples.
| Infinitive | Present Participle | Past Tense |
|---|---|---|
| rather | rathering | rathered |
- Read a question to your class. Ask them to mime the answer they would choose.
- Ask a student to draw a card from the pile and try to act both the options. Get the rest of the class to guess which card they chose!
- Invite students to create a dramatic skit based on a random card from the pile.
Would you rather be a genius and know everything or be amazing at any activity you tried? Would you rather dine alone or watch a good movie by yourself? Would you rather end world hunger or stop crime all over the United States? Would you rather wear pants 3 sizes too big or shoes 3 sizes too small?
- Have more time or more money? Lose your vision or your hearing? ...
- Be covered in fur or scales? Always have a mullet or be bald? ...
- Give up sex or your favourite food? Walk in on your parents having sex or have your parents walk in on you? ...
- Have bad breath or smelly feet?
it says “I would rather that I call you” is correct.
We have listed all the opposite words for rather alphabetically. extremely. acutely. almighty. awfully.
- though.
- nevertheless.
- nonetheless.
- still.
- yet.
- notwithstanding.
- all the same.
- howbeit.
Ask the group to decide what they would rather do given two possible options. Take a poll, and then lead a short debate between the merits and disadvantages of each option. The questions can range from silly, to gross, to impossibly cool.
Would you rather die before or after your partner? Would you rather have to kiss every person you meet or never kiss your partner again? Would you rather date someone who your family loves and your friends despise or who your friends love and your family despises?
Would you rather questions for someone you like?
- "Would you rather watch the sunset or sunrise?"
- "Would you rather go alone to see your favorite musician in concert or go to a BBQ with your closest friends?"
- "Would you rather dress up and go clubbing or stay home in sweats?"
Feel free to use "I will rather" if you have a situation where you are certain of the future. With theoretical situations we use would.
We use rather than to give more importance to one thing when two alternatives or preferences are being compared: He wanted to be an actor rather than a comedian. Can we come over on Saturday rather than Friday?
It's an interesting question but the fact of the matter is there has never been any rule stopping you from starting a sentence with rather. Rather you have always been free to use it at the beginning of sentences if you wish.
I'd rather not go out tonight. In negative sentences with a different subject, the negative comes on the clause that follows, not on would rather: She'd rather you didn't phone after 10 o'clock. Not: She wouldn't rather you phoned after 10 o'clock.
Unlike too, which is also used to express similar ideas, rather does not have a negative meaning. 'How is your new job? ' 'Rather good. ' (Here rather is used with an adjective.)
What does Would you rather mean? Would you rather refers to a game where participants must choose between two challenging scenarios and explain why.
Would you rather always say everything on your mind or never speak again? Would you rather make a phone call or send a text? Would you rather read an awesome book or watch a good movie? Would you rather be the most popular person at work or school or the smartest?
If you say that you would rather do something or you' d rather do it, you mean that you would prefer to do it. If you say that you would rather not do something, you mean that you do not want to do it.
Rather with adjective + noun
With a/an we usually use rather a/an + adjective + noun, but we can also use a rather + adjective + noun. With other determiners (some, those) we use determiner + rather + adjective + noun: We had to wait rather a long time. (or, less common, We had to wait a rather long time.)
Would rather not meaning?
phrase. If you say that you would rather do something or you`d rather do it, you mean that you would prefer to do it. If you say that you would rather not do something, you mean that you do not want to do it.
alternately. alternatively. as a matter of choice. by choice. by preference.
I'd rather and it's time are also followed by the unreal past. The verb is in the past tense, but the situation is in the present. When we want to talk about a course of action we would prefer someone else to take, we use I'd rather + past tense.