B2 Leccin 49.

I'd Rather You Do It

I'd Rather You Do It
As you already know we translate the expression I'd rather as Yo preferira. We use this expression when we want to suggest an
activity or when we are making plans with other people. We are studying it deeper in this lesson. Remember: We use an infinitive
without to after this expression.
There two possible structures with this expression:

1- I, we, they. . . + would + rather + infinitive withoutto

Notice
The subject of the main clause and the infinitive is the same. In this structure we express
something a person chooses for himself/herself.

Autor: shiyazuni - CC

I'd rather go home. It's getting late

I'd rather go home. It's getting late
Preferira irme a casa. Se est haciendo tarde
They'd rather wait for you in the station
Ellos preferiran esperarte en la estacin
We'd rather eat out. None of us feel like cooking
Nosotros preferiramos comer fuera. A ninguno de nosotros le apetece cocinar
They'd rather go camping. It's going to be sunny this weekend
Ellos preferiran ir de camping. Va a hacer sol el fin de semana
You'd rather go to the beach, but we should ask Mike
T preferiras ir a la playa, pero deberamos preguntarle a Mike
My friends would rather have a party, but I don't feel like having one
Mis amigos preferiran hacer una fiesta, pero no me apetece hacer una
My sister would rather cook lunch, but it means I will have to cook dinner
Mi hermana preferira cocinar el almuerzo, pero eso significa que yo deber cocinar la cena
Rose'd rather write children stories. She isn't a good teacher

Rose preferira escribir historias infantiles. Ella no es una buena profesora

2- I, you, they. . . + would + rather + I, you, he. . . Simple Past

Notice
Notice the subject of the main clause is different from the subject of the Simple Past. In this
structure a person makes a suggestion to another person:

Autor: sanjoselibrary - CC

I'd rather you told the children a tale. I don't know any
I'd rather you told the children a tale. I don't know any
Yo prefiero que t le cuentes un cuento a los nios. Yo no s ninguno
My sister would rather I went to the supermarket. She doesn't like it at all
Mi hermana prefiere que yo vaya al supermercado. A ella no le gusta en lo absoluto
Rose'd rather I explained the plan to her parents. She says they like me
Rosa prefiere que yo le explique el plan a sus padres. Dice que les gusto
They'd rather I worked every weekend and I cannot say a word
Ellos prefieren que yo trabaje el fin de semana y no puedo decir una palabra
My husband would rather we went to the United States
Mi marido prefiere que vayamos a los Estados Unidos
Nelly would rather I looked after the children. She trusts me
Nelly prefiere que yo cuide a los nios. Ella confa en m
My father would rather I stayed at home tonight. We are having a family dinner
Mi padre prefiere que me quede en casa esta noche. Tenemos una cena familiar
Tom would rather Esther helped him. I think he likes her
Tom prefiere que Esther le ayude. Creo que le gusta
My brother would rather you phoned him. He's a kind of disappointed
Mi hermano prefiere que t le llames. Est como decepcionado
The teacher would rather we didn't work in pairs in this project
El profesor prefiere que no trabajemos en parejas en este proyecto
Jonathan would rather you weren't my neighbour
Jonathan would rather you weren't my neighbor

Jonathan prefiere que t no fueses mi vecino

I'd rather you helped at home. I cannot do everything
Yo prefiero que t me ayudases en casa. No puedo hacerlo todo