30 Examples of Sentences with "would rather"

would ratheris a construction in English that is used to indicate preference. It means “I prefer” or “I would prefer”, depending on the context. For example: Yo would rather stay./ I prefer to stay here.

would rather can be used in the same contexts as prefer (prefer). It is very common in oral English, and is usually abbreviated: ’d rather. For example: Yo’d rather leave now./ I'd rather go now.

She would rather… than…It is used when you want to mention a preference over another. For example: I would rather relax than go dancing.(And not: I would rather relax that… )

would rather(either ’d rather) is followed by bare infinitive (infinitive without to). It is an invariable construction, that is to say that it does not change according to the pronoun. For example: I would rather go out. / She would rather go out.

• See also: Sentences with "would”

Examples of sentences with would rather

1. Yo would rather go to a restaurant tonight.
   I'd rather go to a restaurant tonight.
2. Liam would rather stay here with us.
   Liam prefers to stay here with us.
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3. She would rather rest on the beach than be at home.
   She prefers lounging on the beach to being at home.
4. Yo would rather live in the city than in the countryside.
   I prefer to live in the city than in the country.
5. My father would rather eat at home than eat out.
   My dad prefers to eat at home than to eat out.
6. The students would rather make a review today.
   Students prefer to do a review today.
7. my family would rather spend our vacation on the beach than on the mountain.
   My family prefers to spend our vacations on the beach than in the mountains.
8. Larry would rather watch the movie at home.
   Larry prefers to watch the movie at home.
9. My friends would rather take the bus than walk.
   My friends prefer to take the bus than walk.
10. My parents would rather save money than waste it.
    My parents would rather save money than waste it.
11. Yo’d rather invite friends over for dinner.
    I prefer to invite friends over for dinner.
12. Yo’d rather leave this party.
    I prefer to leave this party.
13. They’d rather have the meeting tomorrow morning.
    They prefer to have the meeting tomorrow morning.
14. Yo’d rather take the plane.
    I prefer to take a plane.
15. I have’d rather you visited him more often.
    He would prefer that you visit him more often.
16. my grandmother would rather we stayed home with her.
    My grandmother would prefer that we stay at home with her.
17. Yo’d rather you paid more attention to your studies than to your soccer practice.
    I would rather you pay more attention to your studies than to your soccer practice.
18. Joe would rather not see anybody.
    Joe prefers not to see anyone.
19. Yo’d rather not stay up so late tonight.
    I prefer not to stay up so late tonight.
20. We’d rather not hire an outsourcing company.
    We prefer not to hire an outsourced company.
21. Mike would rather not travel on business.
    Mike prefers not to travel for work.
22. The children at school would rather not study but play.
    School children prefer not to study but to play.
23. Yo’d rather She did not travel alone.
    I prefer that she not travel alone.
24. They’d rather we didn't join them for lunch tomorrow.
    They prefer that we not go to lunch with them tomorrow.
25. Yo’d rather you didn't take a taxi so late.
    I prefer that you don't take a taxi so late.
26. Would you rather leave or stay?
    Do you prefer to go or stay?
27. Would you rather have the spicy sauce?
    Do you prefer hot sauce?
28. Would you rather have lemonade or orange juice?
    Do you prefer lemonade or orange juice?
29. Would you rather Have dinner at a Mexican or at a Thai restaurant?
    Would you rather dine at a Mexican or a Thai restaurant?
30. Would they rather have the conference next week?
    Do they prefer to have the conference next week?

• It can help you: Modal verbs in English (and their meaning)

Sentence structure with would rather

affirmative structure

The affirmative structure of sentences with would ratheris:

subject + would rather + bare infinitive(infinitive without to)

For example: I have would rather eat with us.(And not: He would rather come with us) / He prefers to come with us.

negative structure

The negative structure of would rather is:

subject + would rather + not + bare infinitive

For example: Yo would rather not go./ I would rather not go.

interrogative structure

The interrogative structure of would rather is formed by putting wouldto the subject:

Would + subject + rather + bare infinitive + ?

For example: Would you rather eat pizza or sushi tonight?/ Would you rather eat pizza or sushi tonight?

Sentences with two subjects

When in the sentence there are two clauses with two different subjects (when one subject expresses a preference over another), the structure of would ratherchange. Used past simple after the second subject.

• The affirmative structure of would ratherwhen there are two subjects it is:
  Subject 1 + would rather + subject 2 + past simple

  For example: Yowould rathertheystayed./ I would prefer that they stay.

• The negative structure of would ratherwhen there are two subjects it is:
  Subject 1 + would rather+ subject 2 + didn't + infinitive

  For example: Yowould rathertheydidn't fly today. / I would prefer that you not travel today.

• It can help you: Sentences with "would like”

¿would rather, prefer either would prefer?

would rather	prefer	Would prefer
It is used to express a preference (general or particular, depending on the context)	It is used to express a general preference.	It is used to express a preference in a specific situation.
It means “I prefer”, “I would prefer”.	It means "I prefer".	It means "I would rather".
Yo would rather walk than take the bus.	Yo prefer walking to take the bus.	Yo would prefer to take the bus today.

would rather(prefer) is synonymous with prefer (prefer) to talk about preferences in general, and they can be used interchangeably, although with grammatical differences. For example:

• I would rather watch TV than go out. (would rather + bare infinitive … than … )
• I prefer watching TV to going out. (prefer + ing … to … )

would ratheris the informal version of would prefer to(“I would prefer”) to talk about preferences in a particular situation, although they have grammatical differences. For example:

• I would rather stay alone tonight. (would rather + bare infinitive)
• I would prefer to stay alone tonight. (would prefer + to infinitive)

¿would rather either had better?

would rather and had betterThey are related structures, but have different meanings and are used in different contexts:

would rather	Had better
It is used to express preference.	It is used to express what is advisable or would be a good idea to do.
It means "I prefer" or "I would rather".	It means “it would be better…”, “better than…”.
Yo would rather leave now. I prefer to go now.	Yo had better leave now. I better go.

Follow with:

• Homonyms in English
• «Conditions» in English
• English prefixes and suffixes
• Acronyms and initials in English

Interactive test to practice