Use and meaning of “would rather”

We use “would rather” to describe a preference of one thing compared to another thing.

Examples:
He would rather watch TV than read a book.
She would rather be a nurse than be a teacher.

The activity you prefer comes immediately after “rather” and the activity you do not have a preference for comes after “than“.

Form of would rather

Affirmative full form

subject + “would rather” + base form + “than” + base form

I would rather walk than run.
you would rather walk than run.
he/she/it would rather walk than run.
we would rather walk than run.
you would rather walk than run.
they would rather walk than run.

Affirmative contracted form

subject + “’d rather” + base form + “than” + base form

I’d rather walk than run.
you’d rather walk than run.
he’d/she’d/it’d rather walk than run.
we’d rather walk than run.
you’d rather walk than run.
they’d rather walk than run.

Negative full form

subject + “would rather” + “not” + base form

I would rather not run.
you would rather not run.
he/she/it would rather not run.
we would rather not run.
you would rather not run.
they would rather not run.

Negative contracted form

subject + “‘d rather” + “not” + base form

I’d rather not run.
you’d would rather not run.
he’d/she’d/it’d rather not run.
we’d rather not run.
you’d rather not run.
they’d rather not run.

Affirmative form with 2 different subjects

If there are 2 different subjects in the sentence, the form is very different:

subject + “would rather” + different subject + past simple

I would rather they stayed here.
you would rather they stayed here.
he/she/it would rather they stayed here.
we would rather they stayed here.
you would rather they stayed here.
they would rather I stayed here.

The form is the past simple but we are referring to the present or future.

Negative form with 2 different subjects

subject + “would rather” + different subject + negative past simple form

I would rather they didn’t stay here.
you would rather they didn’t stay here.
he/she/it would rather they didn’t stay here.
we would rather they didn’t stay here.
you would rather they didn’t stay here.
they would rather I didn’t stay here.

Again – The form is the past simple but we are referring to the present or future.

More example sentences with “would rather”

Examples with 1 subject

Would you like to watch TV or would you rather go to the cinema?
I would rather go to the cinema.
I would rather not watch TV.
I hate trains. I would rather get the bus.