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Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Since when are these 2 interchangeable

I read this by a teacher.

sooner and rather are interchangeable?
I've arranged a meeting for the end of July'. 'I'd sooner it ____ earlier'.

Should be were, was or be?
  

Top answer

"Sooner" has been used for "rather" since Middle English, according to the Shorter Oxford Dictionary . It could be any of the three. "Was" is probably usual.

— Enoon

  • "Sooner" has been used for "rather" since Middle English, according to the Shorter Oxford Dictionary .
  • It could be any of the three.
  • "Was" is probably usual.
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9 Answers
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"Sooner" has been used for "rather" since Middle English, according to the Shorter Oxford Dictionary.

It could be any of the three. "Was" is probably usual.
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I"d say "be" myself and "were" as a second choice. "Was" sounds very strange to me. However, I use the subjunctive very naturally, so perhaps that's why.
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Anonymoussooner and rather are interchangeable?
You probably won't find "sooner" used in this sense among teen agers in casual conversation.

I'd rather go to the movies!
I'd sooner go to the moves ???

- A.
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Avangi Anonymoussooner and rather are interchangeable?You probably won't find "sooner" used in this sense among teen agers in casual conversation.I'd rather go to the movies!I'd sooner go to the moves ??? - A.
Yes. I probably should have mentioned that "sooner" in that sense is not used in my dialect whatever the age of the speaker, though we understand it.
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What goes in blank?
Is it the same?
So, if I am to get sick, I would 110% rather it ___ a cold than stomach flu.
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Yes. Same as in the original example.
I prefer "be," as does GG; but all three options are possible.
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AvangiYes. Same as in the original example.I prefer "be," as does GG; but all three options are possible.
In case you were wondering, I put "be" in this one.
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How come is says here that the past tense should be used?
If you go by what it says, shouldn't we use either was or were?
So, if I am to get sick, I would 110% rather it ___ a cold than stomach flu.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/gr
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AnonymousHow come is says here that the past tense should be used?
The subjunctive mood has fallen into disfavor.
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