rather: preference

rather than

This expression is normally used in ‘parallel’ structures: for example with two adjectives, adverbs, nouns, infinitives or -ing forms.

• I’d call her hair chestnut rather than brown.
• I’d prefer to go in August rather than in July.
• We ought to invest in machinery rather than buildings.
• I prefer starting early rather than leaving things to the last minute.

When the main clause has a to-infinitive, rather than is usually followed by an infinitive without to or by an -ing form.

• I decided to write rather than phone/phoning.
• Rather than use/using the car, I decided to go by bike.

would rather

This expression means ‘would prefer to’, and is followed by the infinitive without to. We often use the contraction ’d rather.

• Would you rather stay here or go home?
• ‘How about a drink?’ ‘I’d rather have something to eat.’

The negative is would rather not.

• I’d rather not go out tonight. (not I wouldn’t rather …)

Would sooner is sometimes used in the same way as would rather.

Note that would rather like (BrE) does not mean ‘would prefer’; in this expression, rather means ‘quite’, and does not suggest preference. Compare:

• ‘I’d rather like a cup of coffee.’ (= I’d quite like …) ‘Oh, would you? I’d rather have a glass of beer.’ (= I’d prefer …)

would rather: past tense with present or future meaning

We can use would rather to say that a person would prefer somebody to do something. We use a special structure with a past tense.

Grammar

would rather + subject + past tense

• I’d rather you went home now.
• Tomorrow’s difficult. I’d rather you came next weekend.
• My wife would rather we didn’t see each other any more.
• ‘Shall I open a window?’ ‘I’d rather you didn’t.’

A present tense or present subjunctive is possible (e.g. I’d rather he goes / he go home now), but unusual. To talk about past actions, a past perfect tense is possible.

• I’d rather you hadn’t done that.

However, this kind of idea is usually expressed with I wish (see here).

• I wish you hadn’t done that.

In older English, had rather was used in the same way as would rather. This structure is still found in grammars, but it is not normally used.

note

For other structures where a past tense has a present or future meaning, (see here).

or rather

People often use or rather to correct themselves.

• He’s a psychologist – or rather, a psychoanalyst. (not … or better, a psychoanalyst.)

would rather and had better

Note that would rather (= would prefer) is not the same as had better (= should, (see here). Compare:

• I suppose I’d better clean the windows, but I’d rather watch TV.