The pattern

"I'd rather" plus a verb states a preference between two options. "I'd rather stay in" means, given the choice, staying in wins. The verb after "rather" is the bare form, with no "to": rather stay, rather walk, rather not. That missing "to" is the detail learners get wrong most.

To name the losing option, add "than": "I'd rather walk than wait for the bus." To refuse politely, use "I'd rather not". It is one of the softest ways to say no in English, because it sounds like a preference rather than a rejection.

Say it out loud

Tap a sentence to hear it. Say it after the voice.

  5. A complete polite refusal. No reason required.

  7. "I'd rather you didn't" asks someone not to do something. Past form, present meaning.

  9. The question form. "Would you rather" gives someone a choice between two things.

Check yourself

1Which form follows "I'd rather"?
2How do you name the option you don't want?
3Someone asks a personal question you don't want to answer. Which is polite?

Practice · 3 min

State a preference. Prompt on the left, one natural sentence on the right.

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Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.