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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Rather
Hello,
Rather is easy in straightforward cases. He'd rather do this than that. But what of this: He would rather have surrendered than fought. Or is this better: he would rather have surrendered than to have fought. (are both grammatically okay?)
Also this: He would rather have punished the enemies than forgiven them. Or will this be better: he would rather have punished the enemy than to have forgiven them. Again, are both grammatically okay?
Thanks,
Rather is easy in straightforward cases. He'd rather do this than that. But what of this: He would rather have surrendered than fought. Or is this better: he would rather have surrendered than to have fought. (are both grammatically okay?)
Also this: He would rather have punished the enemies than forgiven them. Or will this be better: he would rather have punished the enemy than to have forgiven them. Again, are both grammatically okay?
Thanks,
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3 Answers
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These are OK:
"He would rather have surrendered than fought."
"He would rather have punished the enemies than forgiven them."
These seem wonky to me:
"He would rather have surrendered than to have fought."
"He would rather have punished the enemy than to have forgiven them."
"He would rather have surrendered than fought."
"He would rather have punished the enemies than forgiven them."
These seem wonky to me:
"He would rather have surrendered than to have fought."
"He would rather have punished the enemy than to have forgiven them."
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Thanks, Wordy. I wonder whether it'd be different with respect to trans. verbs.
For instance: He would rather have captured the enemy than to have killed him. (instead of 'he would rather have captured the enemy than killed him').
He was a king who would rather have starved his people than to have fed them. (instead of 'he was a king who would rather have starved his people than fed
For instance: He would rather have captured the enemy than to have killed him. (instead of 'he would rather have captured the enemy than killed him').
He was a king who would rather have starved his people than to have fed them. (instead of 'he was a king who would rather have starved his people than fed
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AnonymousFor instance: He would rather have captured the enemy than to have killed him. (instead of 'he would rather have captured the enemy than killed him').
He was a king who would rather have starved his people than to have fed them. (instead of 'he was a king who would rather have starved his people than fed them)
Would it be different in these examples?
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