LONGMAN ENGLISH GRAMMAR PRACTICE

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

11.8C 'I'd rather he didn't', etc. [> LEG I I .45]

We generally omit the main part of the verb in short responses:

1 negative responses:

2 affirmative responses:

Frank is going to buy a motorbike. - I'd rather he didn't.

I've told everyone about it. - I'd rather you hadn't.

Frank won't give up his present job. - I'd rather he did.

I haven't told anyone about it. - I'd rather you had.

3 We do not have to repeat the main verb in a complete sentence:

You always go without me and I'd rather you didn't.

Write: Supply negative short responses or continuations to these sentences.

1 Joan wants to become self-employed. J. '.d..rxiMwr./.Mn

2 I've told everyone about it

3 Susan has moved her account to another bank

4 Bill takes sleeping pills

5 I often drive fast

6 Frank went to live in Australia last year

7 Our neighbours keep a large dog

8 Our neighbours have cut down all the trees at the back of their garden

9 I know you've already booked our holiday, but

10 Jane cycles to work every day, but

11 Alan retired early last year, but

11.8D Context

Write: Put in the missing preferences.

KNOW YOURSELF!

Most parents (their children not decide) ^

to join the acting profession because it is so hard to earn a living. They

(their children choose)^2 secure, well-paid

jobs. But if you ask actors themselves, they always tell you there is

nothing they (do)^3 An actor is a person who

(be)^4 a different man or woman. An actor

(talk, walk, and behave)^5 like someone else.

That's what acting is about. Many actors (be called)

(^6) something other than their real names. The
great American comic actor Claude William Dukenfield (be called)
(^7) W.C. Fields, which was the name he
adopted when he became an actor. Fields was eccentric and (live)
(^8) in a world in which there were no dogs or
children. He used to wear a funny top hat and carry a walking-stick. He
loved to pretend to be other people in real life as well. He opened bank
accounts all over America using comic names. He died in 1946 and the
epitaph he wrote for his tombstone clearly expressed a healthy
preference for life: 'On the whole, I (be)^9 in
Philadelphia!'
W.C. Fields