Had better – would rather – would prefer

• We use had better + bare infinitive to give advice or to say what the best thing to do in a particular situation is.

e.g. You had /’d better take some warm clothes with you. (= You should / ought to take…)

Had better is stronger than should/ ought to, but it is not as strong as must.

E.g. You must call a doctor. (strong advice)

You had better call a doctor. (less strong than must)

You should/ought to call a doctor. (less strong than had better)

· We use would rather (= would prefer to) to express preference. E.g. I’m busy. I ’d rather not take a break now.

When the subject of would rather is also the subject of the following verb, we use the following constructions:

1. would rather + bare present infinitive (present/future) E.g. I’ d rather stay at home tonight.

2. would rather + bare perfect infinitive (past) E.g. I’ d rather have gone on holiday to Italy last summer.

When the subject of would rather is different from the subject of the following verb, we use the following constructions:

1. would rather + past simple (present/future) e.g.I’ d rather he did the shopping today.

2. would rather + past perfect (past) e.g. I’ d rather Kate hadn’t spent so much money yesterday.

Study the ways we can express preference:

1. prefer + gerund/noun + to + gerund/noun (general preference) e.g. I prefer jogging to cycling.

2. prefer + full infinitive + rather than + bare infinitive (general preference) e.g. I prefer to go out rather than stay at home.

3. would prefer + full infinitive + rather than + (bare infinitive) (specific preference) e.g. I’d prefer to pay in cash rather than (pay) by credit card.

4. would rather + bare infinitive + than + (bare infinitive) e.g. She’ d rather have a salad than (have) a steak.

1. In pairs, ask and answer questions using the prompts below, as in the example. The choice of answer is yours.

Example: SA: Would you rather go on holiday to Spain or Italy? SB: I’d go to Spain than Italy.

1. go on holiday to Spain or Italy? 2. eat pizza or spaghetti for dinner? 3. play cards or chess this evening? 4. work in a bank or a school? 5. have a dog or a cat? 6. learn French or German?

2. Complete the sentences.

1. I’ll cook dinner if you really want me to, but I’d rather you ____________ 2. I’ll go to the supermarket if you really want me to, but ____________ 3. I’ll wash the dishes if you really want me to, but _____________4. I’ll empty the rubbish bin if you really want me to, but _______________ 5. I’ll iron all the clothes if you really want me to, but_____________ 6. I’ll clean the bathroom if you really want me to, but _______________

3. Fill in the gaps with would rather, prefers, (would) prefer.

1. Do you __________ reading magazines or books? 2. She ___________ go to the disco than go to the theatre. 3. Jack ___________listening to music to watching TV. 4. He ________ study History than Maths. 5. I ____________ the piano to the violin. 6. ________ you _________ to have spaghetti or steak for dinner tonight? 7. I __________ see a comedyfilm than an adventure film. 8. ________ you __________ going to the cinema or going to the theatre?

4. Read the following situations, then make sentences using would rather or had better.

1. You want to play tennis not squash. I’d rather play tennis than squash. 2. You don’t want her to invite him to the party. ______________________ 3. You want to be left alone to read and don’t want to go to the theatre. ___________________ 4. It would be more sensible for you to go and rest for an hour. _________________ 5. I would prefer to spend Christmas in Spain and not to go home. ___________________ 6. We should have waited for him at home. __________________ 7. Mary always wears horrible orange lipstick. You wish she wouldn’t. _______________ 8. Your friend turns up late and you are angry with him. ________________

5. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct form.

1. A: Did you enjoy the party last night? B: No, I’d rather ________ (stay) at home. 2. A: Shall I dust the computer? B: I’d rather you __________ (not/touch) it. I’ll do it myself. 3. A: I’ve got a terrible cold. B: You’d better __________ (not/go) to work today. 4. A: I’m going to work now. B: I think it’s going to rain today. You’d better _________ (take) your umbrella with you. 5. A: I didn’t enjoy Ben’s party. I would rather he _________ (invite) more people. 6. A: You had better _________ (study) hard this weekend for the exam on Monday. B: I will, but I prefer ________ (spend) time with my friends. 7. A: My parents prefer _________ (spend) their holidays in the mountains. B: Do they? I like to be by the sea. 8. A: We’d better ________ (not/book) a taxi to bring us home tonight. B: You are right. We might want to stay here late. 9. A: They’re organizing a party for Susan’s birthday. B: I know, but it’s a secret, so we’d better __________ (not/talk) about it in case she hears. 10. A: I didn’t enjoy my lunch today. I’d rather _________ (eat) something else. 11. A: I’d rather you __________ (not/leave) your shoes in the kitchen every time you come home from school. B: Sorry, I keep forgetting. 12. A: Did you enjoy the film last night? B: Not really. I would rather we __________ (see) a comedy instead. 13. A: Shall we stay in tonight? B: Well, if you don’t mind I would prefer _________ (visit) my parents.

6. Underline the correct tense.

1. I’d rather you did / had done your homework before you go out. 2. Supposing you had heard / had been heard telling me, what would have happened? 3. He asked as if he owns / owned the house. 4. I wish I went / had gone to the library yesterday. 5. I would have made a cake if I knew / had known you were coming. 6. It’s about time we employed / had employed new staff. 7. If she had won / won the competition, she would have had a party. 8. I’d rather you didn’t interrupt / hadn’t interrupted me when I’m talking. 9. Suppose you saw / had seen a crime being committed, what would you do? 10. If only you told / had told me, I would have understood. 11. He would have sent a card if he realized / had realized it was your birthday. 12. If you met / had met John now, you wouldn’t recognize him. 13. It’s high time you learnt / had learned how to drive. 14. I’d rather you hadn’t misbehaved / didn’t misbehave at the party last night. 15. Theyspoke as if they knew / had known each other for years.

7. Choose the correct answer.

1. If you had got up earlier, you … the bus.

a) wouldn’t miss; b) wouldn’t have missed; c) won’t miss

2.... I you, I would look for a new job.

a) Were; b) Would be; c) Had been

3. If she … her umbrella, she wouldn’t have got wet.

a) take; b) had taken; c) would take

4. ‘Let’s go to the supermarket tonight.’ – ‘… go tonight. I’m very tired.

a) I’d rather not; b) I’d rather I don’t; c) I’d rather I didn’t

5. … you study hard, you will pass your exams.

a) Suppose; b) Providing; c) Unless

6. ‘I’ve got a terrible headache.’ – ‘You’d better … an aspirin.’

a) to take; b) take; c) taking

7. ‘I wish I had more money.’ – ‘Then it’s about time you … spending everything you earn.’

a) will stop; b) stopped; c) stop

8. ‘I’ve lost my keys again.’ – ‘If you had put them on the table, you … them.’

a) wouldn’t have lost; b) won’t lose; c) didn’t lose

9. If I finish work early tomorrow, I … go to the cinema.

a) would; b) might; c) should

10. ‘I’ve just passed my driving test.’ – ‘Congratulations. I wish I … drive a car.’

a) will; b) could; c) can

11. If I won the lottery, I … whatever I want.

a) will buy; b) can buy; c) could buy

12. ‘Let’s have a party this weekend.’ – ‘I’d rather we … it this weekend.’

a) didn’t have; b) don’t have; c) haven’t

13. If he were more polite, he … more popular.

a) will be; b) would be; c) can be

14. You won’t get promoted unless you … hard.

a) don’t work; b) won’t work; c) work;

15. … asked, I would have helped.

a) Were I; b) Had I been; c) Should I be

UNIT 6

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