How do you use "would rather / would sooner" in a sentence?

I'd rather stay home tonight.' (same subject) I'd rather you didn't mention this.' (different subject) Would you rather eat in or go out? She'd sooner die than betray her friends.

would rather / would sooner

Q: What does "would rather / would sooner" mean?

Expressing preferences, often contrary to expectations 'Would rather/sooner' express preference. For same subject: would rather + base verb. For different subjects: would rather + past simple (like second conditional). 'I'd rather you didn't smoke' means 'I prefer that you don't smoke.'

Grammar Pattern BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Neutral

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Meaning: Expressing preferences, often contrary to expectations

表达偏好，通常与预期相反

Expresar preferencias, a menudo contrarias a las expectativas

好みを表現する、しばしば期待に反する

선호를 표현하는 구문, 종종 기대와 반대되는 경우

'Would rather/sooner' express preference. For same subject: would rather + base verb. For different subjects: would rather + past simple (like second conditional). 'I'd rather you didn't smoke' means 'I prefer that you don't smoke.'

'Would rather/sooner'表达偏好。同一主语：would rather + 动词原形。不同主语：would rather + 一般过去时（像第二条件句）。'I'd rather you didn't smoke'意思是'我宁愿你不抽烟。'

'Would rather/sooner' expresan preferencia. Para el mismo sujeto: would rather + verbo base. Para diferentes sujetos: would rather + pasado simple (como el segundo condicional). 'I'd rather you didn't smoke' significa 'Prefiero que no fumes.'

「Would rather/sooner」は好みを表します。同じ主語の場合：would rather + 原形動詞。異なる主語の場合：would rather + 単純過去形（仮定法過去のように）。「I'd rather you didn't smoke」は「あなたにタバコを吸ってほしくない」という意味です。

'Would rather/sooner'는 선호를 표현합니다. 주어가 같을 때: would rather + 동사원형. 주어가 다를 때: would rather + 과거시제 (2차 조건문과 유사). 'I'd rather you didn't smoke'는 '당신이 담배를 피우지 않았으면 좋겠어'라는 의미입니다.

Examples

I'd rather stay home tonight.' (same subject)
我今晚宁愿待在家里。'（同一主语）
Preferiría quedarme en casa esta noche.' (mismo sujeto)
今夜は家にいたいな。'（同じ主語）
오늘 밤은 집에 있는 게 낫겠어.' (같은 주어)
I'd rather you didn't mention this.' (different subject)
我宁愿你不提这件事。'（不同主语）
Preferiría que no mencionaras esto.' (diferente sujeto)
これについては触れないでほしい。'（異なる主語）
이 얘기는 안 했으면 좋겠어.' (다른 주어)
Would you rather eat in or go out?
你更想在家吃还是出去吃？
¿Preferirías comer en casa o salir?
家で食べる？それとも外に行く？
집에서 먹을래, 아니면 외식할래?
She'd sooner die than betray her friends.
她宁死也不出卖朋友。
Ella preferiría morir antes que traicionar a sus amigos.
彼女は友達を裏切るくらいなら死んだほうがましだ。
그녀는 친구를 배신하느니 차라리 죽겠다고 했어.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: preferential

✓ Do Say

I'd rather not discuss it.
我宁愿不讨论这件事。
Preferiría no discutirlo.
話し合いたくないな。
그것에 대해 이야기하고 싶지 않아.
Would you rather I came back later?
你宁愿我晚点再来吗？
¿Preferirías que volviera más tarde?
後で来た方がいい？
나중에 다시 올까요?
She'd rather we kept this between us.
她宁愿我们把这件事保密。
Ella preferiría que esto quedara entre nosotros.
彼女は私たちだけの秘密にしてほしいと思っている。
그녀는 우리끼리만 알고 있었으면 한다.
I'd rather have stayed at home.
我宁愿当时待在家里。
Habría preferido quedarme en casa.
家にいればよかった。
차라리 집에 있었으면 좋았을 텐데.
I'd rather stay.
我宁愿留下来。
Preferiría quedarme.
私はここにいたいです。
차라리 여기 있고 싶어요.
I'd rather you didn't smoke.
我宁愿你不要抽烟。
Preferiría que no fumaras.
できればタバコを吸わないでいただきたいのですが。
담배를 피우지 않으셨으면 합니다.
I'd rather you stayed.
我宁愿你留下来。
Preferiría que te quedaras.
できればここにいていただきたいのですが。
여기 남아 주셨으면 합니다.

✗ Don't Say

I'd rather to stay. (no 'to')
I'd rather to stay.（不需要'to'）
I'd rather to stay.（no se pone 'to'）
I'd rather to stay.（「to」は不要）
I'd rather to stay.（'to'는 불필요）
I'd rather you don't smoke. (use past: didn't)
I'd rather you don't smoke.（应使用过去时didn't）
I'd rather you don't smoke.（se usa el pasado: didn't）
I'd rather you don't smoke.（過去形didn'tを使う）
I'd rather you don't smoke.（과거형 didn't를 사용）
I'd rather that you stayed. (no 'that' needed)
I'd rather that you stayed.（不需要'that'）
I'd rather that you stayed.（no se necesita 'that'）
I'd rather that you stayed.（「that」は不要）
I'd rather that you stayed.（'that'는 불필요）

Origin & History

Preference expression with modal-like structures

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal