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I had better - I would rather

Let's come back to two idioms which are frequently problematic...I'd better et I'd rather.

➡️ 1) I'D BETTER//  YOU'D  BETTER // he/ she/ it'D BETTER//  we'D BETTER// they'D BETTER:  

'You would be better off doing this': this expression is a warning (sometimes implying a threat).

It's used to give advice and orders, including to the person who's speaking (and to oneself!)

The full expression is I HAD BETTER; the form is that of a past, yet, the meaning is in the present or future.

The expression must be followed by an INFINITIVE WITHOUT TO: (verb base)

- Come on Peter! You'd better get up now, or you'll miss your train.

* Used in the negative form, you must take a careful look at the word order ! You'd better NOT do. 

- She'd better not cheat  during the test. If she does, she'll be punished.

➡️ 2) I ' D  RATHER... / You'D RATHER... :he/ she/ it/ we/ they'D RATHER:

a)  I'd rather/ he's rather  = I would prefer... expresses a choice, a preference.

The full expression is I WOULD rather + infinitive without TO.

The auxiliary WOULD has, of course, consequences when you want to form a question tag:

- I'm sure you'd rather drink soda than milk, just now, wouldn't you?

- Would you rather play games or watch TV? I'd rather have a rest doing nothing.

 Notice that if the choice is given between several things or possibilities, 'than' is then used. (It's a former comparative form.) 

b) I'D RATHER + different subject + verb in the modal preterite; this preterite indicates that the action isn't real:

it's simply a choice, a preference and is often a warning, or even a threat to the subject of the verb.

- Please, don't go out tonight! To be frank, I'd rather you didn't go out at all.

Therefore, be careful! Do not use one form for the other, and think of the auxiliary if you must have a question tag! 

Quite easy, isn't it? Go for the test! 

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1. I' would better stayed'd better you stay'd rather stayI don't know at home and have a rest tonight. I'm exhausted!



2.

You know, you had rather takewould rather taking'd better takeI don't know the car to the garage. A strange noise's coming from the engine.

3. You 'd better not wakehadn't better wake'd rather wakeI don't know her up before 10 o'clock if you don't want her to be grumpy for an hour.



4. I 'd rather stopped'd rather you stopped'd rather stopI don't know seeing each other; every time you're with him, you end up in trouble!



5. 'A beer? oh no, thanks! I' d ratherhadn't betterwould betterI don't know have a large soda. I'm so thirsty. Will you have one with me?



6. 'Come on, Paul! You better not hurry'd rather hurry'd better hurryI don't know if you want to catch your bus. I can't drive you to school today!'



7. 'Do you want me to close the window? It's chilly!' 'Well! I rather not'd not rather'd rather you didn'tI don't know, you see. I'm terribly hot and need some fresh air!'



8. ' You had better not stayWould you rather stayHad you better stayI don't know here with your sister, or come with us?' 'Really, I must stay as I have a lot of homework to do.'



9. 'Oh dear! You look tired. You had not better'd better'd ratherI don't know go to bed as soon as possible!'



10. 'As he's going to drive for hours, he'd better drink sparkling water and not beer, hadn't hewouldn't hehad heI don't know ? ' ' You're totally right!'