Explanation
Exercises
Would rather & Would sooner — expressing preferences

Quick overview

  • would rather (= would sooner) expresses what we prefer now or in the future. I’d rather sit inside.
  • Two core patterns:
    1) would rather/sooner + bare infinitive (I’d rather stay) — my preference for my action.
    2) would rather/sooner + subject + past simple (I’d rather you went) — preference about someone else’s action.
  • Contractions are normal in speech/writing: I’d rather… / I’d sooner…
  • would sooner is less common and a little more formal/literary, but the meaning is the same.

Form 1 — would rather / would sooner + bare infinitive

Pattern Examples
Affirmative
S + ’d rather/sooner + V		 I’d rather go by taxi. • She’d rather stay home.
Negative
S + ’d rather/sooner not + V		 I’d rather not have chicken again.
Questions
Would + S + rather/sooner + V?		 Would you rather sit inside?
Short reply “Come to the cinema?” — “I’d rather not.”

No “to” and no -ing after rather/sooner: ✓ I’d rather stay • ✗ I’d rather to stay • ✗ I’d rather staying.

Form 2 — would rather / would sooner + subject + past simple

Meaning Examples
Preference about another person’s action (present/future meaning) I’d rather you went home now. • They’d rather their daughter studied medicine.
Negative with didn’t I’d rather you didn’t smoke here.
Questions Would you rather he came with us? • Would you rather I waited here?
Short reply “Shall I open the window?” — “I’d rather you didn’t.”

Use this pattern only when the subjects are different: ✓ I’d rather we left / ✓ I’d rather you left • ✗ I’d rather I waited → say I’d rather wait.

rather than for contrasts

  • After would rather we often compare choices with than or rather than:
    ✓ I’d rather take a taxi than drive.
    ✓ I’d rather stay in rather than go out.
  • Parallel forms: keep the same structure on both sides (verb with verb, noun with noun): I’d rather read than watch / rather tea than coffee.
  • At the start of a clause, rather than is often followed by -ing in careful style: Rather than driving, we took a taxi.

Compare: would rather/sooner vs would prefer / prefer

Expression Form Example Notes
would rather/sooner ’d rather + V I’d rather sit inside. Modal-like; no to.
would prefer would prefer + to-infinitive I’d prefer to sit inside. Same meaning, different grammar.
prefer (general taste) prefer + -ing / noun (+ to …) I prefer reading to watching TV. Habit/general preference (present simple).
would rather + sb + past ’d rather + S + past I’d rather you came early. Present/future meaning about another person.

Common mistakes

  • ✗ I’d rather to stay / ✗ I’d rather staying → ✓ I’d rather stay.
  • ✗ I’d rather I waited here → ✓ I’d rather wait here / ✓ I’d rather we waited.
  • ✗ Negative order with Form 2: I’d rather not you came → ✓ I’d rather you didn’t come.
  • Mixing structures: keep forms parallel after than / rather than.

All examples work with would sooner as well: I’d sooner stay, I’d sooner you went. It is less frequent but perfectly correct.

Mini example bank

  • self I’d rather cook at home than eat out.
  • negative We’d rather not travel in August.
  • other people I’d rather you called me tomorrow.
  • short reply “Can I open the window?” — “I’d rather you didn’t.”
Exercises:
1
2
3

Would rather & Would sooner

Choose the correct verb forms to complete the sentences below.
1
Milk is fine, but I’d rather my coffee black.
2
I would rather you here until the rain stops.
3
You can join us. — Thanks, but I’d sooner at home tonight.
4
I’d rather you your shoes off at the door.
5
We’d rather you the children this afternoon.
6
Would you rather creative or analytical?
7
I’d sooner in this year than travel abroad.
8
Which would you rather first, the emails or the report?
9
I’d rather not about it now.
10
We discovered the error at the end — I’d rather you me earlier.

Would rather & Would sooner

Choose the correct verb forms for the gaps below.
1
We’d rather ____ at home tonight.
A.
B.
C.
2
I’d sooner ____ the train than drive.
A.
B.
C.
3
I’d rather you ____ earlier next time.
A.
B.
C.
4
She’d rather not ____ about it now.
A.
B.
C.
5
They’d sooner we ____ the truth at once.
A.
B.
C.
6
“Do you want to see the film?” — “I’d rather ____ the book first.”
A.
B.
C.
7
He’d rather you ____ him yesterday — he was in a meeting all day.
A.
B.
C.
8
I’d rather ____ the meeting last week — it was clearly the wrong time.
A.
B.
C.
9
I’d sooner ____ hungry than eat that.
A.
B.
C.
10
She’d rather we ____ now instead of waiting.
A.
B.
C.

Would rather & Would sooner

Fill in the gaps with the words in brackets in a suitable form. In cases where there is no verb, a short answer is required.

Fill the blank with the words in brackets in a suitable form. Where there’s no verb in the brackets, write a short answer.

1
I’d (rather/you/leave) your shoes at the door.
2
Would you (you/rather/stay) in tonight or go out?
3
I’d (rather/not/talk) about politics now.
4
She says she’d (rather/you/come) earlier next time.
5
They’d (sooner/drive) than take the train.
6
Would you like some cake? Thanks, but I’d (rather/not).
7
It’s still a secret. I’d (rather/we/not/tell) anyone yet.
8
The landlord says he’d (sooner/you/pay) in cash.
9
If it’s all the same, we’d (rather/watch) the late show.
10
This is a no-smoking area. I’d (rather/you/not/smoke) here.