WOULD RATHER

In English there are several ways to express preferences, for example, we use would prefer to talk about things or activities that we choose.

Would prefer is usually followed by a to-infinitive or a noun, this construction is used to talk about present and future preferences.

Read the following examples:

I’d prefer to stay home tonight. Or, I would prefer to stay home tonight.

I’d prefer to have coffee, please.

I’d prefer coffee. 

On the other hand, when we want to say that we would like to do one thing more than another, we can usually introduce the second thing with rather than, followed by an infinitive without “to”:

I’d prefer to go camping this year rather than go on a beach holiday.

When a different person talks about someone else’s preferences, we can use would prefer + object pronoun + to-infinitive or would prefer it if + past simple:

They’d prefer us to call tomorrow. 

Or, they’d prefer it if we called tomorrow.

Would you prefer me to drive? 

Or, would you prefer it if I drove?

NOTE: Remember that this is a semi-modal auxiliary verb; that it, it is the same for all the persons: I. you, we, they, he, she, it. 

We also use the expression would rather which is similar in meaning to the one above, we use would rather or ’d rather to talk about our preferences, for example:

I’d rather drink coffee, please.

I’d rather not drink coffee. I’d rather have tea, please.

When there are two different subjects, we usually use the past simple to talk about the present or future, and the past perfect to talk about the past:

I would rather they did something about it instead of just of complaining about it. = Past simple to talk about the present or future.

She’d rather he had a good explanation for his actions.

Would you rather I wasn’t honest with you? = Past simple to talk about the present or future.

I’d rather you came every single day to my class.

I’d rather you hadn’t been so offensive = Past perfect to talk about the past.

We’d rather she hadn’t married that man.

NOTE: Remember that this is a semi-modal auxiliary verb; it is the same construction for all the persons: I. you, we, they, he, she, it. 

Complete the following statements. Choose the correct answer.

In this section we are going to practice how to use WOULD RATHER, WOULD PREFER TO or WOULD PREFER.

Choose the best answer to complete the following:

AMAZING ANIMALS IN AUSTRALIA

From island hopping to sunbathing on a beach with friendly kangaroos, here are some of the best Australian experiences. There are uncountable incredible places to enjoy when visiting Australia, so much that it can be tricky to know where to start. Whether you would prefer to be up for adventure like chasing crocs in the Northern Territory, or if you would rather meet furry locals on an iconic wildlife encounter or if you would prefer to explore into our culture and history with a First Nations experience, there really is something for everyone. And you simply can't go wrong, no matter which of these memorable experiences you would rather do.

With around 50 million of kangaroos across the country, two times the number of residents, kangaroos are one of Australia’s most easily spotted native animals. Affectionately referred to as "roos", these bouncing herbivores are considered very social creatures.

It can't get more iconically Australian than lying on a white sandy beach next to a kangaroo. Resident roos are known to regularly sun themselves at a handful of Australian beaches. If you would rather see them in the wild you can visit our most famous park, which is Lucky Bay in Western Australia’s Cape c. This stretch of white sand and turquoise water in Esperance is more than an idyllic place to lay down next to a roo or two. Just don't forget your camera!!!

Kangaroos aren’t just found on Australia’s mainland. As you would expect, there are loads on Kangaroo Island. Meanwhile, if you would rather find one of the largest marsupials in the world; like the forester kangaroo, you should visit Tasmania’s Maria Island.

Generally speaking, kangaroos love flat, grassy plains and wide-open spaces, but if you would prefer to see roos near the city, you should try The Australian National Botanic Gardens in Canberra which is a great inner-city option for spotting kangaroos. If you would rather go outside the city, you will find hundreds of roos roam at Namadgi National Park.

A trip to the Northern Territory isn’t complete without seeing the world's largest reptiles and the saltwater crocodiles around this part of Australia have to be seen to be believed. Crocodiles are also affectionately referred to as “crocs” in the country.  In the safe and capable hands of Matt Wright and the Top End Safari Camp team, you can get very close and personal with some of the Territory's biggest crocs. You'll head out on the water for an airboat ride where you'll have more than a few wild croc encounters as you jet through the floodplains. Remember that day and overnight tours are available during the wet season, November to April.

Cambridge University Press. (2015). Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Fourth Edition.

Capel, A. and Sharp, W. (2014). Objective First. Student’s Book with Answers. Italy: Cambridge University Press.

Eastwood, J. (2019). Oxford Practice Grammar. Intermediate. Oxford University Press.

Hewings, M. (2013) Advanced Grammar in Use with Answers: A Self-Study Reference  and Practice Book for Advanced Learners of English. CUP

Murray, L. (2014) English Grammar.  Cambridge University Press.

Swan, M & Walter, C. (2016). Oxford English Grammar Course. Intermediate. Oxford University Press.

Images_Propio

• Image_Retrived from_Tourism Australia. (2022). WHERE TO SPOT KANGAROOS IN THE WILD. Retrieved from: https://www.australia.com/en-us/things-to-do/wildlife/where-to-see-wild-kangaroos.html

• Practice exercise written by Ana María Martínez Gutiérrez. (2022). Lic. en Enseñanza de Inglés. FES Acatlán. UNAM.
• Audio version performed by Matt_Compra propia de licencia de uso de voces en Voicemaker, exenta de derechos de autor. https://voicemaker.in/ _Connie Reyes Cruz_2022_
• Practice exercises written by Ana María Martínez Gutiérrez_2022_ FES-ACATLÁN-UNAM.
• Adapted from_Tourism Australia. (2022). WHERE TO SPOT KANGAROOS IN THE WILD. Retrieved from: https://www.australia.com/en-us/things-to-do/wildlife/where-to-see-wild-kangaroos.html
• Practice exercise written by Ana María Martínez Gutiérrez. (2022). Lic. en Enseñanza de Inglés. FES Acatlán. UNAM.
• Audio version performed by  Matt_Compra propia de licencia de uso de voces en Voicemaker, exenta de derechos de autor. https://voicemaker.in/ _Connie Reyes Cruz_2022_