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Old Eladio Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

Would rather + past? or present?

0Please, help me on this. I perfectly understand the first sentence. I don't understand the second one, but it is written in an English dictionary, and I think (poor me, an English learner) the third sentence is the correct form for the past. Am I right? On the contrary, please explain this point as extensive as you can.02br
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01b001.- I would rather (01i00or 02i00would sooner) you tell him than I do.02b02br
02br
01b002.- I would rather (01i00or 02i00would sooner) you told him than I did.02b02br
02br
01b003.- I would rather (01i00or 02i00would sooner) you had told him than I did.02b02br
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00Eladio0-
  

Top answer

02br 02br 00As you know, "would rather" is equal "wish". Unlike "want" and "hope", "wish" and "would rather" are used to express the subject's desire that is counter-factual (in the case the desire is about a past event or a present event) or can hardly be realized (in the case the desire is about a future event). 02br 00 #1 is about an unrealizable future event.

— Paco2004

  • 02br 02br 00As you know, "would rather" is equal "wish".
  • Unlike "want" and "hope", "wish" and "would rather" are used to express the subject's desire that is counter-factual (in the case the desire is about a past event or a present event) or can hardly be realized (in the case the desire is about a future event).
  • 02br 00 #1 is about an unrealizable future event.
  • 02br 00 #2 is about a counter-factual present event.
  • 02br 00 #3 is about a counter-factual past event.
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3 Answers
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0 Hello Eladio02br
02br
00Please allow me to change your example sentences a bit for the sake of explanation.02br
00 [1] I would rather (01u00he tell her02u00 than I do).02br
00 [2] I would rather (01u00he told her02u00 than I did).02br
00 [3] I would rather (01u00he ha
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0 01blockquote
01cite10Paco200412cite10Hello Eladio12br
12br
10As you know, "would rather" is equal "wish". 12br
12br
10paco12blockquote
10Even more equal, "prefer".0-
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0 01blockquote
01cite10Milky12cite10Even more equal, "prefer".12blockquote
10Quite00 01font00informative02font00.00 0-
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