Had Better and Would Rather

S + Had Better / Would Rather + Verb-I + [ C ]

No.	S	Had better/ Would rather	Verb-I	C
1 2 3 4 5	I We You They Rudi	had better had better had better would rather would rather	go study take a rest stay eat	now tonight at home in that restaurant

Pattern with had better  is used to express something that is considered “better” to do (1, 2, 3). Whereas, would rather is used to express a tendency to do somthing (3, 4). In writing and conversation had/would is often shortened to be (‘d), so I’d better = I had better and I’d rather = I would rather. 

SHORT CONVERSATIONS:

A     : I get a headache.

B     : You had better see a doctor.

A     : You had better not smoke.

B     : Thanks for your advice. But it is difficult.

A     : Would you rather watch football on TV or at Stadium?

B     : I’d rather watch on TV.

A     : It’s getting late. You’d better go home now.

B     : But I would rather stay here. Nobody is at home.

A     : May I accompany you?

B     : Thanks. But i’d rather go alone.

IT’S RAINING OUTSIDE

Dian  : I want to go to Ani’s house but it’s raining outside.

Thomas: You’d better stay here with me.

Dian  : Yes, I would rather stay inside, but she must be waiting for me.

Thomas: You had better call her now.

Dian  : What are we going to do?

Thomas: We’d better watch TV.

Dian  : I would rather cook.

Thomas: What will you cook?

Dian  : Noddle and baked bananas.

Thomas: You had better cook now. I am starving.

Dian  : Oh God, I almost forget. I have English assignment.

Thomas: What is it?

Dian  : I have to write recent news reports in English.

Thomas: It is almost five pm. There is English news on TV soon.

Dian  : If so, you had better cook.

Thomas: And you?

Dian  : I’d rather watch TV.

Thomas: All right. We will discuss the news later.

Dian  : Thanks a lot.

Thomas: Don’t mention it.