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MrWonderful Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Would ...

Could you please explain why I can say: I'd rather {that} she were\be\had been

and I can't say: I'd hate {that} she were\be\had been
or
I'd like {that} she were\be\had been
or
I'd love {that} she were\be\had been ??
What rule works here?
  

Top answer

Hi: If you look up rather in the dictionary, you will see this idiomatic usage: —Idiom 9. had / would rather, to prefer that or to: I had much rather we not stay. We would rather go for dinner after the show.

— AlpheccaStars

  • Hi: If you look up rather in the dictionary, you will see this idiomatic usage: —Idiom 9.
  • had / would rather, to prefer that or to: I had much rather we not stay.
  • We would rather go for dinner after the show.
  • The other verbs you quoted do not have this idiomatic usage.
  • You have to use a different construction: I would hate it if she were cruel to me.
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4 Answers
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Hi:

If you look up rather in the dictionary, you will see this idiomatic usage:

—Idiom
9. had / would rather, to prefer that or to: I had much rather we not stay. We would rather go for dinner after the show.

The other verbs you quoted do not have this idiomatic usage. You have to use a different construction:

I would hate it if she were
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MrWonderfulWhat rule works here?
Each verb has its own characteristic grammar. We're lucky that entire groups of verbs sometimes have very similar grammar. Nevertheless, "I'd rather" is unique. It requires certain grammatical patterns that verbs like "hate", "like", and "love" do not.

The only observation to be made here, I think, is that "I'd rath
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Isn't it supposed to be: I would like/love it if he gave me a job
?
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