當後接不同主語的從句時，從句中的謂語動詞要采用虛拟語氣的用法。如果是對現在或将來情況的描述，從句的謂語動詞采用一般過去時的形式；如果是對過去情況的描述，從句的謂語動詞采用過去完成時的形式。如：

現在或将來：I would rather they did something about it instead of just talking about it.

現在或将來：Would you rather I wasn’t honest with you?

過去：I’d rather you hadn’t rung me at work.

（三）would much rather

當我們要強調時，會采用would much rather的用法。在口語中，我們會重讀much以示強調。如：

I’d much rather make a phone call than send an email.

She’d much rather they didn’t know about what had happened.

（四）I'd rather not

在口語中，我們常用“I’d rather not”來對别人的建議或要求作出否定的簡短回答。如：

A: Do you want to go for a coffee?

B: I’d rather not, if you don’t mind.

二、would sooner和would just as soon

would sooner和would just as soon在用法上與would rather差不多，如：

I don’t really want to go back to France again this year. I’d sooner go to Spain.

Thanks for the invitation, but, if you don’t mind, we’d just as soon stay at home and watch it all on TV.

相比較而言，would sooner比would just as soon更為常用，但would rather則最為常用。

三、常見錯誤

從以上說明中我們需要注意的兩個常見錯誤是：

1、would rather等後接的是動詞原形，而不是不定式to do或動名詞ing形式。如：

正确：I don’t need a lift, thanks. I’d rather walk.

錯誤：I’d rather to walk. or I’d rather walking.

2、當would rather等後接從時，其否定不是體現在would rather等上，而是體現在從句中的謂語動詞上。如：

正确：I’d rather they didn’t tell anyone

錯誤：I’d rather not they told anyone.

正确：She’d rather you didn’t phone after 10 o’clock.

錯誤：She wouldn’t rather you phoned after 10 o’clock.

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