French language Christmas theme with Russian transcription. Christmas in France Christmas is the most important holiday of the year for any French family, so they prepare for it thoroughly, a whole lot in advance. Christmas traditions in France

There is no guarantee that you will react correctly and competently in any situation. In that foreign language a lot of all kinds of constructions and expressions that simply need to be studied, if only because they are very widely used in speech, both written and oral. Then you will easily understand what exactly (specifically) the interlocutor wanted to say, what he wanted to emphasize, what shade he wanted to give to his words. Moreover, you can easily answer in the same vein, and simply express your opinion, based on such popular speech patterns in the English language.

Let's talk about famous expressions prefer And would rather (would sooner). Despite the fact that in meaning these constructions refer to the same topic - I want, I prefer - they have differences both in the shade that they give to speech and in their use, which contains its own grammatical nuances. In order to more clearly present these important points, we will not mix these expressions, but consider them separately, thereby forming a clear idea of ​​how, where and when it is necessary usewould rather (would sooner) Andprefer.

Use prefer

We will start directly with the verb “prefer” - prefer. We use this verb with an infinitive with a particle to (prefer to do something) or with a gerund ( prefer doing something) . Both of these designs are absolutely equivalent. They express a person’s preferences in general, that is, they determine what a person always likes, and not in a specific situation. It is important to grasp the meaning of a general rather than a specific nature.

I prefer to live in the country. – I prefer to live outside the city.

I prefer phoning people to writing letters. – I like calling people more than writing letters to them.

I prefer to stay up late at night. – I prefer to go to bed late at night.

She prefers giving gifts rather than receiving them. – She likes giving gifts more than receiving them.

To clearly remember the correct structure of a construction with the verb “ prefer", you need to learn several sentences that represent the algorithm for its use. There are three such samples:

1. I prefer something to something else– I prefer something to something
2. I prefer doing something to doing something else– I prefer to do this rather than that
3. I prefer to do something rather than (do) something– see option 2

I prefer meat to fish. - I prefer meat rather than fish.

I prefer going to the theater to watching plays on television. - I prefer to go to the theater rather than watch plays on TV.

I prefer to live in the country rather than (live) in the city. - I prefer to live in the countryside than in the city.

Unlike using just a verb prefer, use of expression would prefer does not imply the preferences of a person in general, but his wishes and needs in a particular situation. In other words, someone wants something (to do something) right now, even if in a more general sense in life he does not have a preference for it. We also highlight two samples according to which you can compose all subsequent sentences you need:

1. Would you prefer...? - What would you like? What do you prefer? (in a certain situation).

Would you prefer tea or coffee? Coffee, please. - Will you have tea or coffee? Coffee please.

1. I would prefer to do something rather than do something else. (I would prefer one over the other).
   

   I'd prefer to read a book. – I would read a book.

   I'd prefer to eat at home rather than go out. – I would prefer to eat at home rather than go to some establishment.

note that would in these constructions it is almost always used in abbreviated form - I would=I'd…

Use would rather (would sooner)

The second very useful expression is would rather– is analogous to the previous one I would prefer. Semantic meaning these three designs ( would rather, would sooner, would prefer) are the same, but there is a very small, but quite significant nuance in the grammatical design. After would prefer we use the infinitive with a particle to (to do), and after the other two – without a particle to (do). Accordingly, the sample for memorizing with consumptionwouldrather will look like this: I'd rather do something than do something else.

Shall we go by train? Well, I'd prefer to go by car. I'd rather go by car. - Shall we go by train? Well, I would go by car.

I’d rather walk in the park than go to the cinema. – I would rather take a walk in the park than go to the cinema.

I'd rather wait for a few minutes. – I would wait a few minutes.

He said he would sooner stay at home. “He said he would prefer to stay at home.”

And one more rule regarding the use would rather (would sooner): when we want someone else to do something, or are trying to say that it is preferable for another person to do something, we turn to this construction - would rather someone do something. Please pay Special attention that the verb in this case will be in the form of the simple past tense, but we will be talking about actions of the present or future.

I’d rather you cooked dinner now. - I would like you to prepare dinner now.

I'd rather you told her. “I would prefer that you tell her.”

My mother would rather we caught the bus, rather than walk home after the party. “Mom would prefer that we take the bus home after the party rather than walk.”

If you find an error, please highlight a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.

Do you want your speech to become more rich? Then why not pay attention to two useful designs - had better And would rather? The main thing is to understand what difference between them, and learn to use these expressions correctly. In this article, we'll take a look at the usage, meaning, and examples that will surely help you incorporate this sweet pairing into your speech.

HAD BETTER \ WOULD RATHER - difference and use

When to use had better, and when would rather? Of course, we can't understand difference without delving into the meaning and translation of these constructions.

HAD BETTER – can be compared to a modal verb should since this phrase serves to express advice, recommendation. Most often in the Russian version the design sounds like this “you’re better...”, “he’s better...” etc. That is, this is how it literally comes out in translation, if we discard "had". Please note that "had" in a phrase "had better" does not change in any way and has no footnote to the past tense.

WOULD RATHER - this design is also compared to something. Typically this is a verb "prefer". This happens for a reason. By itself "would rather" expresses preference. Most often in context we are talking about choosing between several possible options. Let's delve into the translation of the word "rather". The dictionary will give us several very interesting meanings: “more willing”, “preferable”, “better”. Generally, "would rather" translated as follows: “better”, “perhaps”, “I would prefer”. And this is no longer advice, but a person’s conscious choice to do or not do something.

Please note that both expressions are used with the initial form of the verb without a particle TO.

HAD BETTER \ WOULD RATHER – difference in examples

Now it's time to look at more examples with had better And would rather so that we will never be misled again difference between structures.

Examples with had better

	Martha doesn't look very good. She'd better stay home tonight.
2) You 'd better do your homework today because we are visiting grandparents tomorrow.	You better do your homework today, since tomorrow we are visiting grandparents.
3) She 'd better watch her children when they are playing outside.	She should keep an eye on her children when they play in the yard.
4) They ‘d better study harder if they don’t want to lose their reputation at school.	They should study more diligently if they do not want to lose their reputation at school.
5) Tom would better work more instead of borrowing money.	It's better for him to work more instead of borrowing money.

Examples with would rather

1)I 'd rather phone her and ask this question myself.	I'll probably call her and ask this question myself.
2) Bob would rather get there by taxi than by bus.	Bob would prefer to go there by taxi rather than by bus.
3) We 'd rather not talk about this now.	We'd rather not talk about it now.
4) Would you rather drink juice or mineral water?	Would you prefer juice or mineral water?
5) Anna would rather cook dinner than clean the flat.	Anna would prefer to cook dinner rather than clean the apartment.

In cases where it is necessary to use negation with had better or would rather it’s enough just to put after these structures negative particle NOT. And then the semantic verb simply follows without TO.

You'd better not smoke here.- You better not smoke here.

Surely you noticed that in our examples abbreviations were used - ‘d better\‘d rather. This is quite normal in colloquial speech.

If you have a question, what is the difference between a modal verb should from design had better, then we would like to point out that should usually expresses more general advice. Had better it also serves to express a recommendation that is related to a specific situation.

Examples:

You'd better put a raincoat on. The weather is getting worse.- You better (should) wear a raincoat. The weather is getting worse.

You should stay at home when it is raining.– You should stay at home when it rains.

It is believed that when using the construction, the speaker is hinting that something will harm the listener if he does not follow the recommendation. He will catch a cold, get some negative results or suffer in an accident. Should but has a more general meaning. With the help of this modal verb, a person simply shares his opinion on what should be done. But if the advice is not taken into account, nothing supernatural will happen.

Please note that there may be more complex versions of sentences with the construction would rather. The speaker does not always talk about his preferences, but sometimes he needs to say what he expects other people to do. In this case, after the construction and the person (the second part of the sentence) is used past simple(if the event concerns the present) or past perfect(if the event concerns the past).

Examples:

I’d rather she didn’t come.“I would prefer that she not come.”

I’d rather they had organized a party at home.- It would be better if they organized a party at home.

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To begin with, I would like to make a small introductory part on the use of the verb to prefer .

I think everyone knows its translation - “ prefer", and it is used when expressing general preferences:

• I prefer fizzy drinks to still. - I I prefer carbonated drinks non-carbonated.
• He prefers rafting to climbing – He prefers rafting rock climbing.

This design means prefer one to another, i.e. prefer one to the other. And in the English version there is a preposition to.

When using a verb prefer two forms can be used: “ prefer to do” or “ prefer doing” , they convey the same meaning:

• When she is abroad, she prefers to stay in a quiet hotel in the suburbs. - When abroad, she prefers stop in a quiet hotel somewhere in the suburbs.

The same thing can be said a little differently:

• When she is abroad, she prefers staying in a quiet hotel in the suburbs.

Now to rather.

Rather than

This phrase is usually used in a construction that can be translated in general terms: “I would prefer That, not this" Nouns, adjectives, adverbs, infinitives or forms ending in –ing can be used here:

• I'd prefer to go there by bus rather than by train. - I would go there by bus, A Not by train.
• I'd call your hairstyle weird rather than original. - I would call your hairstyle strange, A Not original.
• She prefers going shopping on workdays rather than on weekends. – She prefers to go shopping on weekdays, but not on weekends.

Continuing the theme of abroad:

• When she is abroad, she prefers to stay at a host familyrather thanat a hotel. - She prefers to live with a family, A Not at the hotel when he is abroad.

If in circulation with rather than in the main sentence the full infinitive is used (i.e. with the particle to ), then in the other part the so-called “naked” infinitive (i.e. one verb) or gerund:

• Unlike you, Tom prefers to train hard rather than be/ being a couch potato. - Unlike you, Tom works hard at sports, but not lying on the sofa.
• Rather than hang/hanging about, I prefer to read books - I prefer to read a book, A Not loiter around idle.

By the way, what does abbreviation mean? I ’ d (prefer) ? Nothing more than I would prefer . The fact is that many, while memorizing certain clichés, sometimes do not know their decoding. Would prefer to do smth/ doing smth means that the speaker would prefer do in specific situations:

• Would you like tea or coffee, Alice? – Oh, such a hot day! I 'd prefer to drink something cool and fresh. - Alice, will you have tea or coffee? - It's so hot today! I would preferred drink something cool and refreshing.
• Karen, what do you think about going to that new sushi restaurant tonight? – You know, I don’t like raw fish, so I ’ d prefer going somewhere else. – Karen, what do you think about us going to a new sushi restaurant tonight? – You know, I don’t like raw fish, so I I'd rather go somewhere else.

Would rather

The turnover is synonymous in meaning of the construction ‘ would prefer to’ , i.e. what we discussed above. The whole difference lies in the grammatical structure: after would rather the infinitive without a particle is used to , and the entire structure is reduced to ‘ d rather (do) :

• Shall I turn on the box? – In fact, Casey, I ’ d rather read a book. – Shall I turn on the TV? -Actually, Casey, I I'd rather read book.
• Steven, you're drunk as a cobbler! Maybe, should you go for a walk? – Never ever! I 'd rather stay here and toss off one more pint of beer. - Steven, you're drunk as hell! Maybe you should go for a walk? - Never! I better I'll stay here and I'll miss it another glass.

By the way, if we had structured our answer in the first example a little differently, namely: we would have advised Casey read a book, then we would use:

• Shall I turn on the box? – Oh, Casey, you 'd better read a book. – Shall I turn on the TV? – Casey I read it would You better book.

To make a turn with would rather negative, we use the particle not before the verb:

• I ’ d rather not stay up late and go to bed right now. - I would preferred Not stay too long late and let's go would sleep right now.

Sometimes turnover from ‘ d rather not used for short answers:

• So, Garret, will you invite Sam to your birthday party? –I’ d rather not. - Well, Garrett, are you going to invite Sam to your birthday party? - I would prefer not to call.

And another design with would rather …. than, meaning “I’d rather do this than that”:

• I ’ d rather become an old maid than marry this moron. – Better I I'll stay old maid how I'll marry this idiot.

Would rather : do it You better this than that

Or don't do it at all. The following construction has this meaning, the structure of which is: would rather someone did something. It should be noted that again the grammar goes against the meaning - the verb is used in past time (Simple past), and its meaning refers to present or future time:

• I 'd rather you came I'm very tired. – Come better tomorrow, I'm very tired.
• I 'd rather she didn't tell my mother what happened. - I I wouldn't want her to tell to my mom about what happened.
• Shall I turn on the box? –I 'd rather you didn't. – Shall I turn on the TV? – Better Not necessary.
• Ok, I'll pay the bill but I 'd rather you did- Okay, I'll pay the bill. But it would be better if you This did.

Adverb rather can describe the degree of expression of the adjective or adverb that follows it. In this case rather translated as " enough", "enough". In the same meaning, instead of the adverb rather adverb can be used quite, with the difference that quite may have a positive connotation, and rather– negative. However, both adverbs are interchangeable in most cases.

Use with an adjective:

The film was rather good.
The film was enough not bad.

Use with an adverb:

It happened rather quickly.
It happened enough fast.

note

1. The adverb has the same meaning fairly. However rather has a slightly stronger tint. However, the adverb has an even stronger connotation very.

2. Unlike most other adverbs, rather can also be used with a noun:

It's rather a problem.
This represents some problem.

3. Rather can be used with some verbs:

I rather like it.
This is for me basically (= to some extent) like.

Using rather to express preference

Rather than

In comparative constructions (when comparing two adjectives, adverbs, nouns, verbs, etc.) an adverb rather can be used with conjunction than to express preferences. As a rule, this construction is translated into Russian as " better than…", "better... rather than...".

For example:
Let's take train rather than the bus.
Let's better let's go by train, but not by bus.

Rather you than me!
Better You, how I!

When the first part of a comparative construction is expressed by an infinitive with a particle to, infinitive after rather than usually used without a particle to. Also in such cases it is allowed to use –ing verb forms.

For example:
I decided to write rather than phone/phoning.
I decided better write a letter, but not call.

Would rather

Design would rather translated as " would prefer/would prefer", "would like to", etc., and is synonymous with the construction would prefer to. After construction would rather followed by an infinitive without a particle to.

For example:
I" d(= I would) rather leave now. (=I" d prefer to leave now.)
I would prefer leave now.

Would you rather stay here or go home? (= Would you prefer to stay here or go home?)
You would prefer stay here or go home?

Would rather + subject + past tense verb

Design would rather can be used to express one person's wishes regarding another person's actions. IN in this case you need to use the indicated construction with a verb in the past tense form.

For example:
Don't come today, I would rather you came tomorrow. (= I would prefer you to come tomorrow.)
Don't come today, I would prefer so that you come tomorrow.

I would rather you posted this letter. (= I would like you to post this letter.)
I I'd like to for you to send this letter.

To express actions in the past, you can use a verb in the past perfect tense. In Russian, such a difference is not visible.

For example:
I would rather you hadn't done that. (= I wish you hadn't done that.)
I I'd like to so that you don't do this.

Combinations of the verb WOULD with the adverb RATHER and the verb to PREFER have the same meaning: PREFER and are included in common speech patterns. You can prefer something, someone, or prefer to do something. When we talk about preference, it is always choice in favor of something, someone, or the desire to do exactly what one likes over another action. The combinations WOULD RATHER or WOULD PREFER are often used in alternative questions or in comparative constructions. If there is no alternative, its meaning is shown by the context.

In Russian, sentences with the combinations “WOULD RATHER” and “WOULD PREFER” sound something like this:

Rather than go for a walk in the rain, I would rather stay at home.

I prefer to remain silent. or: I’d better keep silent.

He prefers to drink tea in the morning.

Of all the fruits, he prefers apples.

If you don't mind, I'd prefer not to talk about this topic right now.

Let's look at the differences in the use of the combinations “WOULD RATHER” and “WOULD PREFER”.

I. The combination WOULD RATHER is followed by an infinitive without the particle “to”.

For example:

I would rather stay at home. = I prefer to stay at home. I'd rather stay at home. I'd rather stay at home.

The shortened form of the combination WOULD RATHER = 'D RATHER is very common in colloquial speech.

For example:

I'd rather have my English this evening. = I'd rather study English this evening.

I'll write a few more examples with the expression WOULD RATHER.

Would you rather stay here or go home? = Do you prefer (want) to stay here or go home?

Would you rather go by train or by air? = Do you prefer (is it better for you) to travel by train or fly by plane?

Would you rather go to the cinema or to the theater? = Do you prefer (like) going to the cinema or to the theater?

How about a drink? – I'd rather have something to eat. = How about something to drink? = I'd rather eat something.

I'd rather do it myself than ask for somebody else. = Rather than asking someone (to do it), I’d rather do it myself.

The combination of the verb WOULD with an adverb in the comparative degree - SOONER: WOULD SOONER also has the meaning of preference and its abbreviated form accordingly: 'D SOONER.

I'll write a couple of examples.

He'd sooner cook dinner at home than go to a restaurant. = He is more likely to cook dinner at home than go to a restaurant.

She'd sooner ask for helping than do it herself. = She is more likely to ask for help than to do it herself.

II. The combination WOULD PREFER is followed by an infinitive with the particle “to”.

For example:

I would prefer to stay at home this evening. = I'd rather stay at home tonight.

The combination “WOULD PREFER TO...” also has the abbreviated form “’D PREFER TO...”, which is usually used in colloquial speech.

For example:

I'd prefer to discuss this matter right now. = I would prefer to discuss this issue right now.

The comparative construction WOULD PREFER TO... is formed with the help of RATHER THAN.

For example:

I'd prefer to read an interesting book rather than watch television = I would rather read an interesting book than watch TV.