0
Musicgold Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

I would rather...

Hi,



I am not clear about the tense of the underlined phrase. I have seen people using ‘I would rather die than…’, but the underlined part here is in the past tense. How should one use ‘I would rather…’ correctly?



I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way.



Thanks,



MG.
  

Top answer

Perhaps for a past action , it properly it should be "I would have rather you had just said "thank you," and gone on your way" but I really don't have any problems with the way that's written. I have no problems understanding it, in any case. For repeated action: No need to bow each time.

— BarbaraPA

  • Perhaps for a past action , it properly it should be "I would have rather you had just said "thank you," and gone on your way" but I really don't have any problems with the way that's written.
  • I have no problems understanding it, in any case.
  • For repeated action: No need to bow each time.
  • I would rather you just say "thank you" and be on your way.
  • Think of "I would rather" "I wish it were such that," perhaps.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

2 Answers
0
Perhaps for a past action , it properly it should be "I would have rather you had just said "thank you," and gone on your way" but I really don't have any problems with the way that's written. I have no problems understanding it, in any case.

For repeated action: No need to bow each time. I would rather you just say "thank you" and be on your way.

Think of "I would rather" "I w
0

Related Questions