The phrases “had better” and “would rather” serve different purposes but are often confused. However, distinguishing between them is quite simple. In short, “had better” is used to give firm advice, while “would rather” simply expresses a preference. To ensure you can use these phrases correctly in conversation, let’s explore their meanings and learn how to use them properly.
Using had better to give strong advice or warnings
Had better is used to give strong advice or warnings. It suggests that something negative might happen if the advice isn’t followed.
Example 1
Imagine this: You’re about to go out in the pouring rain without an umbrella, and you think to yourself…
I‘d better take an umbrella.
Even though you’re thinking this to yourself and it isn’t advice from someone else, it is still considered an advisable action and there is an obvious potential negative consequence. If you choose not to take an umbrella, you will end up soaked (very wet) and uncomfortable.
Example 2
Imagine this: It’s your son’s turn to do the dishes, but he is about to leave them in the sink and head out to play computer games, and you say…
You‘d better wash the dishes before you go; otherwise, you might find there’s no game time waiting for you.
Although it might sound like advice at first, it’s clearly a warning once you consider the whole sentence. If the boy doesn’t wash the dishes, he might face an unhappy parent and possibly be denied game time.
Additional examples
- I have a bus in half an hour. I‘d better go now or I’ll miss the bus.
- It’s 1 pm. We‘d better stop for lunch now. The restaurant closes at 2 pm.
- I have an English test next Monday. I‘d better not go out this weekend.
- Mary isn’t feeling very well. She‘d better not go to school today.
Remember that…
- The full form had better is usually shortened in spoken English (I‘d better, you‘d better).
- We use had better to indicate that it’s advisable to do something and that if the advice is not followed, a negative consequence is implied.
- The form had is normally past, but the meaning of had better is either present or future, never past.
- The form had better is followed by the infinitive.
Using would rather to express preference
The phrase “would rather” expresses a preference between two or more options and it’s often used to show what someone prefers to do.
Example 1
Imagine this: You are discussing weekend plans with your friends and say…
I would rather go to the movies than to a bar.
There’s an obvious preference – you enjoy a more relaxed night at the movies over the lively atmosphere of a bar.
Example 2
Imagine this: You are planning some summer activities for your family and say…
My children would rather go to the swimming pool than visit a museum.
There’s an obvious preference – they prefer fun in the water over a quiet day exploring exhibits.
Example 3
Imagine this: You need an important document and it’s urgent. Your friend has the document and you want him to send it to you. Here’s your conversation:
‘Hi, Tim! I need the sales reports. Can you send them to me?’
‘I’ll send them tomorrow, OK?’
‘I would rather you sent them today. I need them for a meeting.’
In this structure we use the past (‘sent’), but the meaning is present not past. Let’s compare two sentences with would rather followed by different verb tenses:
‘I would rather wash the car today.’ (‘wash‘ – infinitive)
‘I would rather you washed the car today.’ (‘washed‘ – Past Simple)
Additional examples
- ‘Do you want to go to the pub with me?’ ‘I‘d rather not. I want to stay in today.’
- ‘Shall we go by bus?’ ‘I would rather take a taxi. It’s faster.’
- Would you rather eat fish or meat?
- ‘Shall we take the bus to the museum?’ ‘I would rather we took a taxi. It’s faster.’
- I would rather they didn’t know what happened.
Remember that…
- The full form would rather is sometimes shortened in spoken English (I‘d rather, you‘d rather).
- We use would rather to express preference.
- The form would rather is followed by the infinitive or by a subject and a past tense.
Your turn
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