一、后接動(dòng)詞原形后接動(dòng)詞原形，表示“寧愿做某事”。如：I’d rather be told the truth than be lied to. 我寧愿聽真話，不愿被欺騙。

I’ve already seen that film, so I’d rather see another one. 我已經(jīng)看過那部電影了，所以還是看部別的吧。

I’ll go if you’re going. If not, I’d rather stay at home. 你去我就去，否則我寧可待在家里。

I’d rather do it without anybody’s help. 我寧愿不要任何人幫助，自己干這件事。

“How about a drink?” “I’d rather have something to eat.”“喝一杯怎么樣?”“我寧愿來點(diǎn)吃的。”

注：would rather的否定式，通常要將not置于rather之后。如：I’d rather not say anything. 我寧可什么也不說。

二、后接完成式動(dòng)詞后接完成式動(dòng)詞，表示過去的想法，通常可譯為“（本來）寧愿做某事”。如：We went by sea, but I’ d rather have gone by air. 我們是乘船去的，可我本想乘飛機(jī)去。

“At that time, I would rather have been a factory worker than an animal keeper,” he said. “那時(shí)，我寧愿做一個(gè)工廠工人，也不愿做動(dòng)物飼養(yǎng)員，”他說道。

三、后接從句后接從句時(shí)，從句謂語要用虛擬語氣。具體說來，有以下兩種情況：

1.指現(xiàn)在或?qū)碛眠^去時(shí)。如：I would rather you didn’t mention the price. 我愿意你別提價(jià)錢。

I’d rather you knew that now, than afterwards. 我寧愿你現(xiàn)在知道而不是以后。

Don’t come and see me today—I’d rather you came tomorrow. 今天不要來看我——我希望你們明天來。

Tomorrow’s difficult. I’d rather yon came next weekend. 明天有困難。我希望你下周末來。

“We might go for a swim” “No,l’d rather we didn’t.” “我們?nèi)ビ斡景伞！薄安唬蚁胛覀冏詈貌蝗ァ！?/p>

“Shall I give you a cheque?” “I’ d rather you paid cash.” “我付給您支票行嗎?”“我想您最好付現(xiàn)金。”

Ann said that Bill wanted to go alone but that she’d rather he went with a group. 安說比爾想一個(gè)人去，但她寧愿他跟一大群人一起去。

2.指過去用過去完成時(shí)。如：I’d rather he hadn’t told me about it 我寧愿他未告訴我這件事。

Kate went by car and I’d rather she hadn’t. 凱特是坐汽車去的，我倒愿意她不是坐汽車去的。

I’d rather she had asked me before borrowing the car. 我真希望她先問我一聲再借車。

注：有時(shí)用于虛擬語氣語境中。如：If I’d lived in 1400, I’d rather have been a knight than a monk. 如果我生活在1400年，我寧愿當(dāng)騎士，不當(dāng)修道士。

If she’d had a chance, she’d rather have lived 100 years ago. 如果有機(jī)會(huì)她寧愿生活在100年前。