Rather is an adverb of degree like ‘fairly’, ‘quite’, etc. used with nouns, adverbs, adjectives, and superlatives.
- That’s rather a nuisance!
- He cooks rather well.
- She’s got a rather nice voice.
- That’s rather more than I expected to pay.
Or rather: to correct what we have just said, or make it more precise.
His son is a doctor, or rather, a surgeon.
We did the project,or rather, I did it all by myself
Preferences: 'rather than' and 'would rather
Rather than :
- It would be better to go in September rather than in August.
- I prefer to leave now rather than wait for all the speeches.
- He decided to write rather than telephone.
Rather than doing :
When the main clause has a verb in the –ing form, ‘rather than’ can be followed by –ing.
- I prefer getting up early rather than rushing at the last minute.
would rather do = would prefer to do – same subject
- Would you rather live here or go back to London?
.(= would you prefer to live ...)
- I’d rather live here.(= I would prefer to live here.)
- I don't want to go to the swimming pool. I’d rather go to the beach.(= I would prefer to go to the beach.)
would rather have done - same subject (=would prefer to have done – (regret about something that has already happened)
I would rather have chosen the other card
I 'd rather not have done that.
I would rather you did. I would rather YOU did (now –future ) (different subjects)
Don’t come on Monday. I’d rather you came on Tuesday.
I 'd rather you did it without my help
I'd rather you didn't lie
I 'd rather you told the truth
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I would rather you had done. I would rather HE had done- different subjects (refers to the past) (express regret about something that has already happened)
‘I’d rather you hadn’t done that = I wish you hadn’t done that.
I'd rather you had told me the truth
I'd rather you hadn't gone there.
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