would rather

would rather

had better

prefer​

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structure

would rather

• same person

• different person​

same person

• +simple infinitive (play)

• +perfect infinitive (have played)​

different person

• present/future +simple past (played)

• past + past perfect (had played)​

had better

• subject + had + better + bare infinitive

  You + had + better + finish. = You had better finish your homework.

• subject + had + better + not + bare infinitive

  You + had + better + not + say = You had better not tell your teacher what had happened.

prefer

• Subject + prefer + ing form + to + ing form

• I prefer reading biographies to watching films. (NOT I prefer reading biographies to watch films)

• Subject + prefer + ing form + rather than + ing form.

  I prefer reading biographies rather than watching films. I prefer playing with my children rather than partying with my friends.

• Subject + prefer + to-infinitive + rather than + infinitive without to

  I prefer to read biographies rather than watch films. I prefer to bake my cakes myself rather than buy them from the bakery. I prefer to play with my kids rather than party with my friends.

• Subject + prefer + ing form + instead of + ing form

  Note that you cannot use an infinitive after ‘instead of’.

  I prefer reading biographies instead of watching films. I prefer playing with my kids instead of partying with my friends.

would rather=prefer

•  Subject + would rather +bare infinitive+ than + bare infintive

  I would rather read biographies than watch films. I would rather play with my kids than party with my friends.