50 Examples of Would Rather and Had Better in English

would rather and had betterare two constructions in English that appear in similar contexts but have different meanings. While would rather indicates preference, had betterexpresses what would be advisable to do. For example:

• Yo would rather tell the truth. / I would rather tell the truth.
• Yo had better tell the truth./ I better tell the truth.

would rather and had better They are invariable constructions, that is, they do not change according to the pronoun they refer to. They are usually used in spoken English. For example: I / He / We would rather tell the truth.

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¿would rather either had better?

While the contexts in which they appear would ratherand had bettermay be similar, both the meanings and the structures of both constructions are different.

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would rather	Had better
It is used to indicate preference.	It is used to indicate what is advisable or a good idea to do because otherwise there would be a negative result.
It translates as “I prefer” or “I would prefer”.	It translates as "it would be better than", "it would be better than", "it will be better than".
It is abbreviated as ’d rather. ’d is the contraction of would.	It is abbreviated as ’d better. ’dis the contraction of had.
Yo’d rather stay home tonight. I would rather stay home tonight.	Yo’d better stay home tonight. It would be better if I stayed home tonight.
Refers to present and future tense.	Refers to present and future tense.

would ratherIt is used to express a preference in a specific situation. For general situations, use prefer. For example: I prefer playing tennis on weekends. / I prefer to play tennis on weekends.

Had better it is used to express what is advisable or would be a good idea to do in a specific situation. For general situations, use should. For example: The government should reduce taxes./ The government should reduce taxes.

• It can help you: Verbs to express likes and preferences in English

Sentences with would rather

1. Yo would rather stay here with you.
   I prefer to stay here with you.
2. I have would rather leave the party now.
   He would rather leave the party now.
3. Yo would rather work from home.
   I prefer to work from home.
4. We would rather choose another restaurant.
   We would rather choose another restaurant.
5. Yo would rather sit by your side.
   I prefer to sit next to you.
6. Would you rather choose another hotel?
   Do you prefer to choose another hotel?
7. Yo would rather you didn't eat.
   I'd rather you didn't come.
8. They would rather live in the countryside.
   They prefer to live in the country.
9. Yo would rather not leave now.
   I would rather not go now.
10. Yo would rather not invite John to the party.
    I would prefer not to invite John to the party.
11. Would you rather spend your vacation in the mountains?
    Do you prefer to spend your holidays in the mountains?
12. We would rather not take a plane.
    We would prefer not to take a plane.
13. Yo would rather eat healthy food for lunch.
    I prefer to eat healthy foods for lunch.
14. Yo’d rather you did the dishes.
    I would prefer that you wash the dishes.
15. dad would rather watch the soccer match tonight.
    Dad prefers to watch the football game tonight.
16. Would you rather eat sushi?
    Do you prefer to eat sushi?
17. Yo’d rather you didn't.
    I'd rather you did not.
18. She would rather be alone.
    She would rather be alone.
19. Yo would rather you didn't lie to me.
    I'd rather you didn't lie to me.
20. We would rather not both James.
    I would prefer not to bother James.
21. Yo would rather discuss this later.
    I prefer to discuss this later.
22. They would rather move before the baby is born.
    They prefer to move before the baby is born.
23. Yo’d rather stay home and watch a movie tonight.
    I prefer to stay home and watch a movie tonight.
24. Would you rather have more free time?
    Would you rather have more free time?
25. Emma would rather spend the day on the beach than come with us.
    Emma would rather spend the day at the beach than come with us.

Sentences with had better

1. Yo had better go.
   I should better go.
2. you had better take an umbrella.
   You'd better take an umbrella.
3. Yo had better invite him to my birthday party.
   I better invite him to my birthday party.
4. We had better lock the door before we go out.
   We'd better lock the door before we go out.
5. you had better call him.
   You better call him.
6. Yo had better take out money from that ATM.
   You better withdraw money from that ATM.
7. They had better fill up the tank now.
   It would be better if they fill the tank now.
8. Yo had better take a taxi
   You'd better take a taxi.
9. We had better work out our issues.
   It would be better if we solve our problems.
10. you’d better cover this wound.
    It would be better if you covered this wound.
11. Yo’d better get going or I'll be late.
    I'd better go or I'll be late.
12. you’d better come here at once.
    You better come here immediately.
13. Had we better report this to the teacher?
    Would it be better if we inform the teacher about this?
14. you’d better stay in bed today.
    You'd better stay in bed today.
15. We’d better not go out this weekend.
    We better not go out this weekend.
16. you’d better keep your eyes on the road.
    You better keep your eyes on the road.
17. The children had better be here by dinner time.
    The kids better be here by dinner time.
18. We had better speak to him.
    We'd better talk to him.
19. Yo’d better leave now or I won't make it to the meeting.
    I better go now or I won't make it to the meeting.
20. Hadn't we better take a rest?
    Wouldn't it be better if we took a break?
21. you had better tell the truth.
    You better tell the truth.
22. We’d better be back by midnight.
    We better be back by midnight.
23. They had better call a lawyer.
    It would be better if they called a lawyer.
24. you’d better study more for the next exam.
    You better study harder for the next exam.
25. We had better be silent or the teacher will get angry.
    We'd better keep quiet or the teacher will be angry.

Sentence structure with would rather and had better

The expressions would rather and had betterare formed with different auxiliaries, but have similar structures:

So much would ratheras had better are followed by bare infinitive(infinitive without to). For example:

• You'd rather leave.(And not: You'd rather to leave.)
• You'd better leave.(And not: You'd better to leave.)

To form negative sentences with would ratherand had better used not after rather and better. For example:

• You'd rather not leave.
• You'd better not leave.

To form questions with would rather and had betterthe investment is made between the auxiliary (wouldand had) and the subject. The questions with had better they are not common in modern English. For example:

• would you rather leave?
• had you better leave?

Follow with:

• Verbs with «-ing" either "to infinitive»
• Sentences with "I wish» / «if only»
• «Second conditional" in English
• «Mixed conditionals" in English
• «third conditional" in English
• English prefixes and suffixes

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