Would rather/ sooner

We use the set expressions would rather/ would sooner to express preference in a particular situation. There is no difference between would rather and would sooner, but would rather is more common. Subjunctive II or the Infinitive may be used after these expressions.

I

When the subject of would rather/sooner is also the subject of the following verb, we use the Infinitive. The Simple Infinitive (V) is used to express preference in the present or future.

Smb would rather (sooner) do (not do) smth = Smb would prefer to do (not to do) smth

E.g.: I would rather (sooner) walk. = Я б воліла піти пішки.

The Perfect Infinitive (have + V₃) is used to express preference in the past.

Smb would rather (sooner) have done (not have done) smth = Smb would have preferred to do (not to do) smth

E.g.: I would rather have walked but they decided to take a taxi. = Я б краще пішла пішки, але вони вирішили взяти таксі.

Exercise 1 Answer the questions.

1. Where would you rather go, to Paris or London?

2. What would you rather have, tea or coffee?

3. Which would you rather eat, fish or meat?

4. What would you rather do, watch a movie or go to the disco tonight?

5. Where would you rather live, Kyiv or Chernihiv?

6. Who would you rather have met, Marilyn Monroe or Charlie Chaplin?

7. Which series would you rather have starred in, Friends or Supernatural?

8. You did your homework yesterday but what would you rather have done?

Exercise 4

Make five sentences.

Smith's mowing the grass.

He'd rather not be mowing the grass. He'd rather be lying on the beach.

Make sentences about the other soldiers.

What are you doing? What would you rather be doing?

Exercise 3 a) You haven’t decided yet what to do tonight. Look at the announcement of the events for the evening and discuss where you would rather go tonight. Follow the example.

A: How about wrestling or speedway tonight?

B: I’d rather go to the speedway. = I’d prefer to go to the speedway.

or I’d rather not see either.

or I don’t fancy either. I’d much rather see the football.

Now answer these questions.

1. Shall we go to the flying display or the dance theatre?

2. How about the circus or the concert?

3. Which do you fancy, the tennis or the greyhound racing?

4. Where would you rather go, the funfair or the waxworks?

5. I don’t really fancy the football. I’d prefer to go to the painting exhibition. What about you?

b) Read the dialogue between two friends. Note how they express their preference. Make up your own dialogues.

E Have yon decided yet? What do you want to see?

F A Moment of Peace' is on at the Continental. I'd like to see that.

E Would you really? Oh, I'd rather see 'War in Space'.

F Oh, no! The reviews were terrible.

E I know, but it sounds fun. 'A Moment of Peace' is in French, and I'd rather not have to read subtitles.

F Then how about 'California Sunset'?

E I'd rather not ... I can't stand Steve Newman.

F Well, you choose.

E I don't fancy any of them. I'd much rather stay in and watch TV!