LONGMAN ENGLISH GRAMMAR PRACTICE

11 Modal auxiliarles and related verbs

11.8 Expressing preferences: 'would rather' and 'would sooner'

11.8A Expressing personal preference with 'I'd rather'/'I'd sooner' [> LEG I I .44,16.5]

Study:

Study:

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1 We use would rather and would sooner in exactly the same way to express preference.

We can refer to the present or the future:

I'd rather/I'd sooner be a builder than an architect.

Or we can refer to the past:

If I could choose again, I'd rather/sooner have been a builder than an architect.

2 We can omit the verb in negative short answers:

Are you coming with us?- No, I'd rather/sooner not.

Would you rather have been a builder? - No, I'd rather/sooner not (have been).

Write 1 : Supply the correct forms of the verbs in brackets.

1 Which would you sooner? A pilot or a passenger? (be)

2 My career is nearly over, but I'd much rather in the navy than in the army, (be)

3 If I had lived in the past, I'd sooner a peasant than a king, (be)

4 I'd rather in the eighteenth century than in the nineteenth century, (live)

5 I like my job. I'd rather my living as a teacher than anything else, (make)

6 I wish my job were secure. I'd sooner worry about it. (not have to)

7 Jim had to break the bad news to her. I know he'd rather do it. (not have to)

Write 2: Supply negative short answers with I'd rather/I'd sooner to these questions.

1 Are you coming with us? No

2 Would you rather have been invited to the party? No,

3 Do you want to catch the next train? No

4 Would you rather have lived in the past than the present? No,

11.8B Expressing preferences about other people's actions [> LEG I I .45]

We can refer to other people after I'd rather or I'd sooner. Compare:

I'd rather leave on an earlier train. (= I'm referring to myself)

I'd rather Jack (etc.) left on an earlier train.

We use the past tense form after I'd rather\o refer to the present or future. Compare:

I'd rather be happy. I'd rather not sit next to her. (= now - I'm referring to myself)

I'd rather she were/was happy. (= now) I'd rather she didn't sit next to me. (= now)

We use the past perfect form after I'd rather to refer to past time. Compare:

I'd rather have been present. (= then - I'm referring to myself)

I'd rather you had been present, (then) I'd rather you hadn't told me about it. (then)

Write: Supply the correct forms of the verbs in brackets.

1 You might be late for the meeting. I'd rather you ...OQAMjhfc an earlier train, (catch)

2 I won't be home till very late. I'd sooner you for me. (not wait up)

3 He took a risk investing money with them. I'd rather he it. (not do)

4 I don't mind your borrowing my ladder, but I'd sooner you me first, (ask)

5 I know our daughter is enjoying herself, but I'd rather she here than abroad, (be)

6 I'd rather you present when we signed the agreement, (be)