Four Forms of Would Rather in English

There are four forms of would rather in English. Let’s take a look at them. But first, what does would rather mean?

Would rather means prefer. The difference is in the grammar. To prefer is a normal verb, so it follows the normal rules. Would rather is a semi-modal verb, and semi-modals have their own rules.

Read over the chart above, and tell me what you get from it. Then let’s look at some examples of each of the four forms we can use.

Would Rather to Talk About the Present and Future

Subject + would rather + basic form of verb

Would you rather stay home or go out today?
I’d rather stay home.
I’d rather not go out.

Would Rather to Talk About the Present and Future with a Second Subject

Subject + would rather + subject + past simple form of verb

Would you rather I go out with you tonight?
I’d rather you stayed home with me.
I’d rather you didn’t go out.

We use the Past Simple even when the subject is the same, but it is repeated a second time.

I’d rather I didn’t have to do chores today.
They’d rather they had more time off.

Would Rather to Talk About the Past

Subject + would rather + have + past participle

Would you rather have stayed home last night?
I’d rather have stayed home.
I’d rather not have gone out.

Would Rather to Talk About the Past with a Second Subject

Subject + would rather + subject + had + past participle

Would you rather I had gone out with you?
I would rather you had stayed home.
I would rather you hadn’t gone out.

We use the Past Perfect even when the subject is the same, but it is repeated a second time.

I’d rather I had know the truth sooner.
Camila would rather she had chosen a different career.

Let’s practice!

Try the quiz!
For a speaking challenge, describe the scenario and add to the monologue.

Try the Advanced Would Rather Arguments Quiz – A grammar and speaking activity
Try the Advanced Would Rather Movie Quiz – Interactive practice

Practice using would rather with speaking games. – Classic Would You Rather games to practice making and defending choices.

Further Reading
Cambridge Dictionary

Deeper Grammar
As a semi-modal, would rather is a hybrid. It takes on some of the traits of pure modals and some traits from normal verbs.

Let’s compare this conditional expression would rather with the modal auxiliary would. Notice the similarities and differences in structure and meaning.

1.) Pure modal verbs, including would, are always followed by a verb the bare infinitive (the base form of a verb). The semi-modal expression would rather can be followed by verbs in different forms and tenses.

2.) Would rather takes on the hypothetical meaning of would and combines it with the normal verb to prefer. It refers to preferences, wishes, and regrets.

Would in a conditional sentence refers to any hypothetical situation.

Would Rather to Talk about the Present and Future

Would rather with 1 subject: I would rather swim than play tennis. – I prefer swimming.
2nd Conditional: I would swim if I could. – I can’t swim.

Would rather with 2 subjects: The coach would rather I ate more protein. – She wants this.
2nd Conditional: I would eat more protein if I wanted to. – I don’t want to.

Would Rather to Talk about the Past

Would rather with 1 subject: I would rather have won the competition. – I didn’t win.
2nd Conditional: I would have won if I had been more dedicated. – I didn’t win.

Would rather with 2 subjects: My team would rather I had done better. – They are disappointed in me.
3nd Conditional: My team would have done better if I had played by best. – I didn’t play my best, and my team suffered for it.