Rather Than, Would Rather, Had Rather and Had Better

I’d’ is a contraction or shortened  form of the words ‘I had’ or ‘I would.’ 

(I + had / I + would =  I’d)

The other formulas are: 

I’d rather + Verb (I would rather/ I had rather)

She’d rather + Verb    (She would rather/ had rather)

He’d rather + Verb   (He would rather/ had rather)

We’d rather + Verb   (We would rather/ had rather)

You’d rather + Verb   (You would rather/ had rather)

It’d rather + Verb    (It would rather/ had rather)

They’d rather + Verb    (They would rather / had rather)

Ram’d rather + Verb    (Ram would rather / had rather)

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Explanation:

When using it with the word ‘rather’ you are suggesting you would like to do or prefer one thing more than another.

For examples: 

1. I’d rather talk about this later.
2. I’d rather eat at home than to order fast food.
3. He’d rather sit for the lecture.
4. She’d rather stay late than come in early tomorrow.
5. Ram’d rather handle the problem himself.
6. We had rather go home than stay out too late.
7. You had rather listen to my parents or get in trouble.
8. She would rather exercise than sit on the sofa all day.
9. Gita would rather complete her task early.
10. They would rather write the answer.

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Rather than: 

Explanation: Rather than means instead of something or in preference to.

1. I think I will come to picnic rather than stay at home in the vacation. 

(I don’t want to stay at home in the vacation, I would like to go to picnic.)

     2.   I chose ice-cream rather than order fruit juice.

(I don’t want to order fruit juice, I would like to have ice-cream.)

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Would rather:

Explanation: Would rather means you prefer to have or do one thing more than another.

I would rather go to picnic than stay at home.

(the first option is better for me compared to the other)

I would rather order an ice-cream than fruit juice.

(I would like to order an ice-cream instead of fruit juice)

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Had better:

Explanation: Had better is used to give advice or tell people what to do. The meaning is present or future, not past.

It’s five o’clock. I had better go now before the traffic gets too bad.

Not: I’d better to go now.

Always use had, not have. After had better, we use the infinitive without ‘to’. Had better has the same meaning as ‘should’.

The negative of had better is had better not (or ’d better not):

I’d better not call her now. Her father might pick up the call.  

You’d better not tell mother about the picnic. She won’t allow us to go.

The interrogative forms are the same as should, but is more formal:

Had I better speak to Ram first before I post this letter? What do you think?

Had we better take permission of the principal before organizing any event?

Negative interrogatives with Had better.

Hadn’t we better knock the door before entering the room?

Hadn’t you better switch your Wifi off before leaving the office?