Examples:
- We had better go into the house because it is raining.
- I can come today but I would rather come tomorrow.
Had Better
'Had better' expresses advice and means 'would find it wiser or more suitable'.E.g.: You had better go now (=it would be good, wise or suitable for you to go now).
Synonyms: ought to do something / should do something.
In negative structures, better comes before not.
E.g.: You had better not go now.
Patterns. Read and memorize!
- We had better take an umbrella. It may rain. (We’d (1) better…)
- He’d better stop and have a rest if he feels tired.
- You’d better go on the excursion.
- You had better not eat so much. (You’d better…)
- Hadn’t you better hurry if you want to catch the eight o’clock train? (2)
- What had I better put on for the party?
Note 2: - The negative form 'hadn't better' is used mainly in questions: Hadn't we better try again later?
►'Had' is sometimes dropped in very informal speech.
E. g. : You better go now.
I better try again later.
Would Rather
'Would rather' expresses choice and means 'would prefer to do something'.E.g.: I would rather you didn't help them (=I would prefer it if you didn't help them).
Patterns. Read and memorize!
- I would rather stay at home than go to the cinema. It’s raining.
- 'How about a drink?' – 'I’d (1) rather have something to eat.'
- I’d rather take a taxi than walk home (it’s too late).
- The children would rather play in the garden than go to bed.
- Would you rather write a composition or a dictation?
- Would he rather read J. Galsworthy or W. Faulkner?
► 'Would rather' can be used with different subjects before and after it, to say that one person would prefer another to do something. In this case, a past tense is generally used with a present or future meaning.
E. g. : I’d rather you went home now.
Don’t come tomorrow. I’d rather you came next weekend.
To talk about past actions, past perfect tense is used.
E. g. : I’d rather you hadn’t done that.
Go to the 'Modal Verbs: Must' page