Would Rather

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Would Rather

You can express a preference in English by using would rather before the verb. This is a modal

auxiliary and the verb that follows would rather is always in the base form.

I would rather have coffee than tea.

Here is how that sentence is broken down:

Subject	Modal Auxiliary	Main verb	Complement
I	would rather	have	coffee than tea.

When it is used as a question, the subject comes between would and rather.

Would you rather have coffee than tea?

Would you rather have coffee or tea?*

* The first question is asking an actual preference, but the second question is asking what you want right now.

Americans normally use a contraction when they say would rather after a pronoun:

I'd rather

we'd rather

you'd rather

he'd rather

she'd rather*

they'd rather

* While it would be possible for an inanimate object (it) such as a legislature or a club to express a preference,
it should not be contracted.

Would rather is about alternatives, so there are usually two options.

I would rather go to the movies than study for the test.

I would rather lie on the beach than clean up my apartment.

However, you do not need to repeat the verb if it is the same.

Bill said he'd rather eat at Alfredo's than The Fish House.

We'd rather buy a Ford than a Chevrolet.

Often would rather is in answer to the question "Do you want XXXX or XXXX?"

Question:	Do you want the chicken or the beef?
Answer:	I'd rather have the beef.

However, you can ask a yes-or-no question with would rather and give only one option, but the listener has to understand what the alternatives are. The subject of the sentence comes between would and rather and the short answer is much like other short answers.

Question	Meaning	Short Answer
Would you rather stay home tonight?	The listener (probably a family member) understands that that alternative is to go out.	Yes, I would.
Would you rather see Mr. Anderson tomorrow?	It has probably already been stated that Mr. Anderson is busy right now.	No, I'll wait.
Would you rather live in the city?	The listener understands the alternative.	No, I wouldn't. I prefer the country.

Remember, would rather is always followed by a verb.

Sometimes the verb is be.

What would you rather be when you grow up, Tommy, a policeman or an astronaut?

Agnes would rather be a college teacher than a high school teacher.

I'd rather be a horse than a cow.

I'd rather be a hammer than a nail. (Paul Simon)

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