Lesson 61 · Stage 4: Tenses & modal verbs
“Would rather” / “had better”
IntermediateForm & use
would rather + verb, had better + verb — preference and strong advice
1.Had better — strong advice
had better ('d better) + base verb (no to) = you should do it, or there will be a problem or danger. Although it contains “had”, it's about now / the future, not the past. Negative: had better not + verb.
| Example | |
|---|---|
| Positive | You'd better (= You had better) go now. |
| Negative | You'd better not tell anyone. |
| Question (not common) | Hadn't we better call a taxi? |
It's going to rain. You'd better take an umbrella.
We'd better leave now, or we'll miss the train.
You'd better not be late for the interview.
In 'd better, 'd = had; in 'd rather, 'd = would. In fast, casual speech people often drop the 'd (“You better go”) — that's informal; in writing keep 'd better or had better.
2.Had better or should?
- should: general advice or opinion; fine in any situation.
- had better: a specific situation, right now, with a consequence if you don't do it.
- had better sounds strong, sometimes like a warning (You'd better pay me back!). With a boss or an older person, use should or “Maybe you could…” to be polite.
- had better is not used for the past; for “it would have been a good idea” use should have + V3.
You should read more English books.
general advice
The exam is tomorrow. You'd better go to bed early.
specific, with a consequence
3.Would rather — preference
would rather ('d rather) + base verb (no to) = prefer to do something in a particular situation. To compare two actions: would rather + verb + than + verb (both base verbs). Negative: would rather not + verb.
I'd rather stay in tonight. I'm really tired.
I'd rather walk than take a taxi.
Would you rather have tea or coffee?
Shall we go to karaoke? — I'd rather not.
a polite no
4.Would rather + person + past
When you want someone else to do (or not do) something, use would rather + subject + past simple. The verb is past, but the meaning is now / the future. Negative: didn't. “I'd rather you didn't” is a very polite way to say no or to ask someone not to do something.
I'd rather you didn't smoke in the car.
My parents would rather I studied medicine.
Shall I call him now? — I'd rather you waited until tomorrow.
5.Prefer, would prefer and would rather
| Pattern | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| prefer + noun / -ing + to + noun / -ing | general likes | I prefer tea to coffee. / She prefers walking to cycling. |
| would prefer + to-verb (+ rather than + verb) | what you want now | I'd prefer to eat at home tonight. |
| would rather + verb (+ than + verb) | what you want now, more informal | I'd rather eat at home tonight. |
| would prefer + person + to-verb | what you want someone else to do | I'd prefer you to drive. |
| would rather + person + past | what you want someone else to do | I'd rather you drove. |
Don't mix up the linking words: prefer A to B (not than), but would rather A than B (not to): I prefer tea to coffee. / I'd rather have tea than coffee.
6.Common mistakes
You had better to see a doctor.You had better see a doctor.
No to after had better.
You'd better don't drive tonight.You'd better not drive tonight.
Negative: had better not + verb.
You would better ask first.You had better ask first.
'd better means had better, not would.
I'd rather to walk.I'd rather walk.
After would rather, use the base verb without to.
I'd rather you don't tell anyone.I'd rather you didn't tell anyone.
would rather + person + past; the present is sometimes heard in speech, but the past is standard.
I prefer tea than coffee.I prefer tea to coffee.
prefer A to B.
Examples
- It's very late. You'd better go home now.
- I'd rather stay at home than go out in this rain.
- I'd rather cycle to school than take the bus.
- My exam is tomorrow, so I'd better revise tonight.
