Grammar › Modal Verbs › Would rather & Would prefer
Would rather & Would prefer
Two ways to state a preference, with different grammar after them:
- would rather + base verb — I'd rather stay in tonight.
- would prefer + to-infinitive/noun — I'd prefer to stay in / I'd prefer coffee.
- about others: would rather + past simple — I'd rather you didn't.
Compare with 'than' (rather … than + base verb) or 'rather than' (prefer … rather than). 'Would rather' never takes 'to'.
would rather vs would prefer
| Structure | Followed by | Example |
|---|---|---|
| would rather | base verb | I’d rather stay home. |
| would rather … than | base verb | I’d rather walk than drive. |
| would prefer | to-infinitive / noun | I’d prefer to stay. / I’d prefer tea. |
| would prefer … rather than | (verb) rather than (verb) | I’d prefer to stay rather than go out. |
| would rather + subject | past simple (about others) | I’d rather you didn’t smoke. |
When to use each
1. would rather — base verb
- I’d rather have an early night. Would you rather sit inside or outside?
2. would prefer — to-infinitive or noun
- I’d prefer to pay by card. She’d prefer a window seat.
3. Talking about other people — past simple
- I’d rather you called me later. They’d rather we didn’t come.
⚠️ ‘Would rather’ takes no ‘to’: I’d rather go (not
to go). ‘Would prefer’ does: I’d prefer to go.
Common mistakes
1. ‘to’ after ‘would rather’. I’d rather to go → I’d rather go.
2. No ‘to’ after ‘would prefer’. I’d prefer go → I’d prefer to go.
3. Present tense about others. I’d rather you don’t smoke → I’d rather you didn’t smoke.
✏️ Practice: Would rather & Would prefer
1. I'd rather ___ at home tonight.
2. I'd prefer ___ by train.
3. I'd rather walk ___ wait for the bus.
4. I'd rather you ___ me before nine.
5. Would you rather ___ inside or outside?
6. She'd prefer ___ window seat.
7. I'd prefer to stay in ___ go out tonight.
8. Choose the correct version of: 'I'd rather to have a coffee.'
9. Choose the correct version of: 'I'd rather you don't tell anyone.'
10. What follows 'would prefer'?
11. Fill in the gap
I'd rather ___ at home tonight. (stay)
Type one word.
12. Correct the mistake
I'd prefer go by train.
Type the whole corrected sentence.
13. Fill in the gap
I'd rather you ___ smoke here. (not)
Type two words.
Frequently asked questions
What follows 'would rather'?
The base verb with no 'to': I'd rather go now. To compare, add 'than + base verb': I'd rather walk than wait.
What follows 'would prefer'?
A to-infinitive or a noun: I'd prefer to leave; I'd prefer a coffee. To compare, use 'rather than': I'd prefer to drive rather than fly.
How do I say what I want someone else to do?
Use 'would rather + subject + past simple': I'd rather you came tomorrow; She'd rather we didn't tell anyone.
Are 'would rather' and 'would prefer' interchangeable?
In meaning, mostly yes. The difference is grammar: 'rather' takes the base verb, 'prefer' takes 'to' + verb.
👩🏫 For teachers
CEFR objectives for “Would rather & Would prefer”:
- Can use 'would rather + base verb' and 'would prefer + to-infinitive/noun' (CEFR B1).
- Can compare options with 'than' and 'rather than'.
- Can use 'would rather + past simple' to talk about others' actions.
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