| 词组 | rather preference |
| 释义 | Contents overview rather : preferencehad rather: obsolete formhad rather: obsolete form obsolete form 566.310757566 rather: preference1rather thanThis expression is normally used in 'parallel' structures: for example with two adjectives, adverbs, nouns, infinitives or -ing forms.I'd call her hair chestnut rather than brown.I'd prefer to go in August rather than in July.We ought to invest in machinery rather than buildings.I prefer starting early rather than leaving things to the last minute.When the main clause has a to-infinitive, rather than is usually followed by an infinitive without to or by an -ing form.I decided to write rather than phone/phoning.Rather than use/using the car, I decided to go by bike.2would ratherThis expression means 'would prefer to', and is followed by the infinitive without to. We often use the contraction 'd rather.Would you rather stay here or go home?'How about a drink?''I'd rather have something to eat.'The negative is would rather not.I'd rather not go out tonight. (not I wouldn't rather …)Would sooner is sometimes used in the same way as would rather.Note that would rather like (BrE) does not mean 'would prefer'; in this expression, rather means 'quite', and does not suggest preference. Compare:'I'd rather like a cup of coffee.' (= I'd quite like …) 'Oh, would you? I'd rather have a glass of beer.' (= I'd prefer …) 3would rather: past tense with present or future meaningWe can use would rather to say that a person would prefer somebody to do something. We use a special structure with a past tense.would rather + subject + past tenseI'd rather you went home now.Tomorrow's difficult. I'd rather you came next weekend.My wife would rather we didn't see each other any more.'Shall I open a window?''I'd rather you didn't.'A present tense or present subjunctive is possible (e.g. I'd rather he goes / he go home now), but unusual. To talk about past actions, a past perfect tense is possible.I'd rather you hadn't done that.However, this kind of idea is usually expressed with I wish (632).I wish you hadn't done that.In older English, had rather was used in the same way as would rather. This structure is still found in grammars, but it is not normally used.For other structures where a past tense has a present or future meaning, 46.4or ratherPeople often use or rather to correct themselves.He's a psychologist – or rather, a psychoanalyst. (not … or better, a psychoanalyst.)5would rather and had betterNote that would rather (= would prefer) is not the same as had better (= should, 77). Compare:I suppose I'd better clean the windows, but I'd rather watch TV.Previous Next |
| 随便看 |
|
英语用法大全包含1354条英语用法指南，基本涵盖了全部常用英文词汇及语法点的翻译及用法，是英语学习的有利工具。