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Teo Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
would rather than
1. I would rather go with you than stay home.
2. I would rather go with you than to stay home.
3. I would rather go with you than staying home.
4. I would go with you rather than stay home.
5. I would go with you rather than to stay home.
6. I would go with you rather than staying home.
Which of the above sentences are acceptable?
Thanks very much for your reply.
2. I would rather go with you than to stay home.
3. I would rather go with you than staying home.
4. I would go with you rather than stay home.
5. I would go with you rather than to stay home.
6. I would go with you rather than staying home.
Which of the above sentences are acceptable?
Thanks very much for your reply.
Top answer
Dear Teo, It is my opinion that numbers 1 and 4 are the most acceptable. You may sometimes hear numbers 2 and 5. Numbers 3 and 6 are incorrect.
- Dear Teo, It is my opinion that numbers 1 and 4 are the most acceptable.
- You may sometimes hear numbers 2 and 5.
- Numbers 3 and 6 are incorrect.
- Kind regards, Goldmund
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13 Answers
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Dear Teo,
It is my opinion that numbers 1 and 4 are the most acceptable. You may sometimes hear numbers 2 and 5. Numbers 3 and 6 are incorrect.
Kind regards,
It is my opinion that numbers 1 and 4 are the most acceptable. You may sometimes hear numbers 2 and 5. Numbers 3 and 6 are incorrect.
Kind regards,
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I don't see anything wrong with #4, although (to my ear) it's not identical to #1. It's not easy to identify the difference. In #1 the speaker is simply expressing a preference between two available choices. In #4, it seems as though the speaker is suggesting an alternative to staying home, or maybe suggesting that although he doesn't really want to "go with you," it would be better than the op
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Point of interest:
All five statements are in American English and it's unlikely you'd hear them in the U.K. We would add an "at" before "home".
All five statements are in American English and it's unlikely you'd hear them in the U.K. We would add an "at" before "home".
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I will hear both stay home and stay at home in AmE.
(If you'll notice, LeicesterLad, all of the US commentators here have found four of the six statements unacceptable.)
(If you'll notice, LeicesterLad, all of the US commentators here have found four of the six statements unacceptable.)
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Hi, If number three and six are incorrect should I think that the same is the following?
I would rather have it off-line than killing anyone. Thanks.
I would rather have it off-line than killing anyone. Thanks.
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K.O.This isn't the same structure as 3 and 6, K.O. The underlying structure is:
Hi, If number three and six are incorrect should I think that the same is the following?
I would rather have it off-line than killing anyone. Thanks.
"I would rather have it off-line than (have it) killing anyone."
So in both clauses, you
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In southern BrE, I'd hear them as follows:
1. I would rather go with you than stay home.
– fine.
2. I would rather go with you than to stay home.
– the to-infinitive is a little awkward.
3. I would rather go with you than staying home.
– no; you have to use an infinitive after "I would rather". "Staying" is a gerund.
1. I would rather go with you than stay home.
– fine.
2. I would rather go with you than to stay home.
– the to-infinitive is a little awkward.
3. I would rather go with you than staying home.
– no; you have to use an infinitive after "I would rather". "Staying" is a gerund.
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