Would rather, would sooner and would prefer are how we say “eu preferiria” in English. They look similar, but each one has its own grammar: some take the base verb, some take to, and some need a past tense even when you talk about now.Would rather, would sooner e would prefer são a forma de dizer “eu preferiria” em inglês. Eles parecem parecidos, mas cada um tem sua própria gramática: alguns pedem o verbo na forma base, outros pedem to, e alguns exigem um tempo passado mesmo quando falamos do agora.
B1 Would rather and would prefer: the basics
Use would rather + base verb (no to) to say what you prefer in a specific situation. In speech, it is almost always contracted: I’d rather, she’d rather.Use would rather + verbo na forma base (sem to) para dizer o que você prefere numa situação específica. Na fala, quase sempre aparece contraído: I’d rather, she’d rather.
- I’m tired. I’d rather stay at home tonight. (Estou cansada. Prefiro ficar em casa hoje à noite.)
- I’d rather walk than take the bus. It’s only ten minutes. (Prefiro ir a pé a pegar ônibus. São só dez minutos.)
- “Do you want to talk about it?” “I’d rather not.” (“Quer falar sobre isso?” “Prefiro não.”)
- Would you rather have pizza or sushi tonight? (Você prefere pizza ou sushi hoje à noite?)
Rather not, not “rather don’t”
The negative is would rather not + base verb. There is no don’t: I’d rather not go to the party.A negativa é would rather not + verbo na forma base. Não existe don’t aqui: Prefiro não ir à festa.
Would prefer and prefer
Would prefer means the same as would rather, but it takes to + base verb or a noun. Prefer without would is for general preferences, and it usually takes -ing and to for the comparison.Would prefer significa o mesmo que would rather, mas pede to + verbo na forma base ou um substantivo. Prefer sem would é para preferências gerais e costuma vir com -ing e to na comparação.
| Structure | Example | Português |
|---|---|---|
| would rather + verb + than + verb | I‘d rather drive than fly. | Prefiro dirigir a ir de avião. |
| would prefer + to + verb | I‘d prefer to travel by train. | Eu preferiria viajar de trem. |
| would prefer + noun | I‘d prefer a window seat, please. | Eu preferiria um assento na janela, por favor. |
| would prefer to + verb + rather than + verb | I‘d prefer to stay in rather than go out. | Eu preferiria ficar em casa a sair. |
| prefer + -ing + to + -ing (general) | I prefer reading to watching TV. | Prefiro ler a ver TV. |
| prefer + noun + to + noun (general) | She prefers tea to coffee. | Ela prefere chá a café. |
prefer (in general)
A permanent taste or habit.Um gosto ou hábito permanente.
I prefer beaches to mountains. (Prefiro praia a montanha.)
would prefer / would rather (now)
A choice in a specific situation.Uma escolha numa situação específica.
This year I’d rather go to the mountains. (Este ano eu prefiro ir para a montanha.)
‘d rather or ‘d better?
✗ I’d better stay home than go out. ✓ I’d rather stay home than go out.Os dois usam ‘d, mas ‘d rather (= would rather) é preferência, e ‘d better (= had better) é conselho ou aviso: You’d better hurry (É melhor você se apressar).
B1+ Preferences about other people and about the past
Would rather + another person + past simple
When the preference is about what another person does, use would rather + subject + past simple. The meaning is present or future, not past. It works like the Portuguese “preferiria que você…”, with the subjunctive.Quando a preferência é sobre o que outra pessoa faz, use would rather + sujeito + passado simples. O sentido é presente ou futuro, não passado. Funciona como “preferiria que você…”, com o subjuntivo.
- I’d rather you didn’t tell anyone about the party. It’s a surprise. (Prefiro que você não conte a ninguém sobre a festa. É surpresa.)
- My mom would rather we came home before midnight. (Minha mãe prefere que a gente volte para casa antes da meia-noite.)
- Would you rather I called you tomorrow? (Você prefere que eu te ligue amanhã?)
Preferences about the past
To talk about a past situation you are not happy with, use would rather have + past participle (for yourself) or would rather + subject + past perfect (for another person).Para falar de uma situação passada que não te agradou, use would rather have + particípio (para você mesmo) ou would rather + sujeito + past perfect (para outra pessoa).
- The film was terrible. I’d rather have stayed at home. (O filme foi horrível. Eu preferia ter ficado em casa.)
- I’d rather you hadn’t told her. Now she’s really upset. (Eu preferia que você não tivesse contado para ela. Agora ela está muito chateada.)
Would prefer + person + to
With would prefer, the other person comes before to + base verb. Another common option is would prefer it if + past simple.Com would prefer, a outra pessoa vem antes de to + verbo na forma base. Outra opção comum é would prefer it if + passado simples.
- I’d prefer you to come to the meeting with me. (Eu preferiria que você fosse à reunião comigo.)
- We’d prefer it if you didn’t use your phone in class. (Preferiríamos que você não usasse o celular na aula.)
- I’d prefer not to discuss my salary. (Eu preferiria não falar sobre o meu salário.)
Would sooner
Would sooner has the same meaning and grammar as would rather, but it is less common and a little more informal. It often shows a strong preference: “I’d do anything rather than that”.Would sooner tem o mesmo significado e a mesma gramática de would rather, mas é menos comum e um pouco mais informal. Muitas vezes mostra uma preferência forte: “faço qualquer coisa, menos isso”.
- This restaurant is too expensive. I’d sooner cook at home than pay these prices. (Este restaurante é caro demais. Prefiro cozinhar em casa a pagar esses preços.)
- He’d sooner quit than work with that manager again. (Ele prefere pedir demissão a trabalhar com aquele gerente de novo.)
Teacher’s tip
A quick way to remember: rather and sooner never take to; prefer always does (prefer to, or prefer + -ing … to). And when someone else is involved, rather moves the verb one step into the past.Um jeito fácil de lembrar: rather e sooner nunca pedem to; prefer sempre pede (prefer to, ou prefer + -ing … to). E quando há outra pessoa envolvida, rather joga o verbo um tempo para o passado.
Common Mistakes
Avoid these
✗ I’d rather to stay home. ✓ I’d rather stay home.Depois de would rather, o verbo vem sem to.
✗ I’d prefer stay home. ✓ I’d prefer to stay home.Depois de would prefer, use to + verbo.
✗ I’d rather don’t go. ✓ I’d rather not go.A negativa é rather not, sem don’t.
✗ I’d rather you don’t smoke here. ✓ I’d rather you didn’t smoke here.Com outra pessoa, would rather pede o passado simples, mesmo com sentido de presente.
✗ I prefer coffee than tea. ✓ I prefer coffee to tea.Com prefer, a comparação é com to; than vai com would rather.
Quick Summary
| Structure | Example | Português |
|---|---|---|
| would rather + verb | I’d rather wait. | Prefiro esperar. |
| would rather not + verb | I’d rather not say. | Prefiro não dizer. |
| would rather … than | I’d rather walk than drive. | Prefiro andar a dirigir. |
| would prefer to + verb | I’d prefer to wait. | Eu preferiria esperar. |
| prefer A to B (general) | I prefer cats to dogs. | Prefiro gatos a cachorros. |
| would rather + person + past | I’d rather you stayed. | Prefiro que você fique. |
| would prefer + person + to | I’d prefer you to stay. | Eu preferiria que você ficasse. |
| past preference | I’d rather have gone by car. | Eu preferia ter ido de carro. |
| would sooner + verb | I’d sooner walk than pay. | Prefiro ir a pé a pagar. |
Practice Time
Quiz