I'd rather you didn't

[nq:1]Hello, I hear this often but it sounds wrong. I always assumed "I'd rather do X" to mean "I would ... pie". If it's wrong, what is a correct way? "I would prefer if you ate the pie"? Thank you Maurizio[/nq]
In this sense 'rather' is more or less the equivalent of "I would prefer it if ... ". There is always a sense of the best or least worst or most convenient choice about it and often a

[nq:1]Hello, I hear this often but it sounds wrong. I always assumed "I'd rather do X" to mean "I would ... pie". If it's wrong, what is a correct way? "I would prefer if you ate the pie"? Thank you Maurizio[/nq]
In common spoken US English, "I'd rather" is equivalent to "I'd prefer." "I'd rather you didn't."= "I'd prefer that you didn't," that is, "If I were in control of the situation (which

[nq:2]Hello, I hear this often but it sounds wrong. I ... common spoken US English, "I'd rather" is equivalent to "I'd[/nq]
[nq:1]prefer." "I'd rather you didn't."= "I'd prefer that you didn't," that is, "If I were in control of the situation ... would make me happy if you didn't." "Rather" expresses a preference, but not necessarily a choice. "Instead" assumes a choice.[/nq]
In other word

[nq:1]I hear this often but it sounds wrong. I always assumed "I'd rather do X" to mean "I would do ... the pie". If it's wrong, what is a correct way? "I would prefer if you ate the pie"? Thank you[/nq]
Derived from now-obsolete "rathe": quick, prompt, eager.

Desk dictionary:
rather: 2. more willingly
had/would rather: 1. would choose to

2. would prefer that

[nq:2]prefer." "I'd rather you didn't."= "I'd prefer that you didn't," ... preference, but not necessarily a choice. "Instead" assumes a choice.[/nq]
[nq:1]In other words, "rather" is an adverb but it is used as a verb. But is it "correct" english? Thanks Maurizio[/nq]
No, it's a verb. "I (would rather)..." like "I (would paint)" or "I (can go)..." {It's been too long since grammar class-i

[nq:2]I hear this often but it sounds wrong. I always ... "I would prefer if you ate the pie"? Thank you[/nq]
[nq:1]Derived from now-obsolete "rathe": quick, prompt, eager. Desk dictionary: rather: 2. more willingly had/would rather: 1. would choose to 2. would prefer that One is always glad to help, but matters easily settled by a simple dictionary look-up suggest a lack of resource (or resou

[nq:1]Hello, I hear this often but it sounds wrong. I always assumed "I'd rather do X" to mean "I would ... pie". If it's wrong, what is a correct way? "I would prefer if you ate the pie"? Thank you Maurizio[/nq]
You could say: "I'd rather you ate the pie"

[nq:1]I find that use of 'had' difficult to explain to people (much like 'I had better go shopping today').[/nq]
Again, the desk dictionary:
" Have is used as an auxiliary . . . with infinitives to express obligation or necessity."
As Jacques Barzun might have put it, Simple & Direct.

[nq:2]I find that use of 'had' difficult to explain to people (much like 'I had better go shopping today').[/nq]
[nq:1]Again, the desk dictionary: " Have is used as an auxiliary . . . with infinitives to express obligation or necessity." As Jacques Barzun might have put it, Simple & Direct.[/nq]
But not quite so simple in the cases of 'I had rather' and 'I had better'. Neither of these has

[nq:2]Again, the desk dictionary: " Have is used as ... As Jacques Barzun might have put it, Simple & Direct.[/nq]
[nq:1]But not quite so simple in the cases of 'I had rather' and 'I had better'. Neither of these has the sense of 'to have to' = 'must'.[/nq]
I believe you are conflating two distinct forms.
"I had better put the cat out now" is auxiliary + infinitive and conveys the sens