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Lagataw Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Rather

In the sentence "I'd rather you didn't do it", what part of speech is "rather"?
  

Top answer

Rather is both 'adverb' and 'exclamation/interjection'. But here, it's used as 'Interjection', meaning to agree with somebody's suggestion. ',asked husband.

— Akhil tiwari

  • Rather is both 'adverb' and 'exclamation/interjection'.
  • But here, it's used as 'Interjection', meaning to agree with somebody's suggestion.
  • ',asked husband.
  • ',said wife.
  • Hope it helps!
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10 Answers
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Rather is both 'adverb' and 'exclamation/interjection'. But here, it's used as 'Interjection', meaning to agree with somebody's suggestion.
For example:
'How about going out for a movie tonight?',asked husband.

'Rather!',said wife.

Hope it helps!

Regards!
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I'm not very good at this but I disagree with Akhil on this. I would wait for other answers. Akhil is correct in saying that rather can be used in these ways.

I would say in this context - rather, function word. Would rather (I'd rather) expresses preference.

would rather - past tense with present or future meaning = would rather + subject .
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It certainly doesn't seem like an interjection in the OP's sentence. I suppose that leaves us with adverb.
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thanks for the attention...i'm just waiting for micawber's answer again! in the meantime, if it is an adverb, which word does it modify?
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lagatawif it is an adverb, which word does it modify?
Thie following is just a theory. I'm not sure if it's correct. In archaic language, I believe one could say "I would (that) you didn't do it", meaning "I would like you not to do it". I'm wondering if in "I would rather you didn't do it" the adverb "rather" modifies "would", showing the manner in which one
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this makes more sense. i was actually thinking there was something hidden there. some invisible verb. i.e. "I would rather (prefer/like) that you did this". or perhaps it's the standalone use of "would'.
not sure though. but that was helpful.
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I agree -
See this, from www.m-w.com's definition for "rather" as an adverb:
2 : more readily or willingly : http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preferably <I'd rathe
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Grammar Geek<I'd rather not go> <would rather read than watch television> However, these examples are more straightforward because there is a proper verb ("go" and "read") to attach "rather" to.
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I don't think I'm good at this but I believe it acts like a verb in this sentence as it shows someone's preference over something and is an alternative to 'prefer'. Following is an example to what I take it as.

A. "Hi, may I speak to Steve?"
B. "I already told you this morning. He's not going to be home until tomorrow."
A. "Oh! I'm sorry. I'll try calling back tomorrow."
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