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

11.8A Expressing personal preference with 'I'd rather'/I’d sooner' [> LEG 11.44,16.5]

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 (to) 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 be ? 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, I’d rather not/ I’d sooner not. 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 11.45]

1 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.

2 We use the past tense form after I'd rather to 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)

3 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 … caught 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)

11.8C 'I'd rather he didn't', etc. [> LEG 11 45] We generally omit the main part of the verb in short responses:

1 negative 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.

2 affirmative responses: 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. I’d rather/sooner she didn’t.. 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)1… woud rather their children didn’t 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!'

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