It's time, I'd rather, I'd better – the difference and the rules of the use

And how often do you have to express your request, advice, or preferences? From time to time? Often? Always? And if you really need to express your thoughts in those situations, simply try to read this article! Here, we speak about the three phrases, which will help you to cope with the cases of the criticism or the offers.

The use of I'D RATHER

The structure “'d rather” or “would rather” is used, when you prefer something (for example, Patrick prefers staying friends with Spongebob to being intelligent). "Would rather" has different constructions. They depend on the subject and the meaning of the sentence.

When the subject refers both to "Would rather", and to the next object, we use such constructions:

• Would rather + present bare infinitive (meaning – the present, the future):

I'd rather do my shopping tomorrow (~ I'd prefer to do my shopping tomorrow).

• Would rather + perfect bare infinitive (meaning – the past):

I'd rather not have eaten that hamburger last night.

• Would rather + bare infinitive + than (+ bare infinitive):

I'd rather watch a comedy than (watch) a horror.

When the nouns, which refer to "Would rather" and the next verb are different, we use somehow different constructions:

• Would rather + past tense (meaning – the present, the future):

I'd rather you didn't tell Joanne about this ( ~ If you didn't tell Joanne about this, it would be better).

• Would rather + past perfect (meaning – the past):

I'd rather Juli hadn't taken my suitcase yesterday.

The use of I'D BETTER

What means "’d" in this structure? It’s "had". But it doesn’t mean that we use this structure to speak about the past. Moreover, we use it for the situations in the future and the present.

• I'd better do something = it’s preferable to do something; if I don’t do something, a problem or danger may appear:

I have to meet my husband in ten minutes. I'd better go now or I'll be late.

• You'd better do something = you warn somebody to do something:

You'd better come on time. You'd better not be late (or you'll miss the meeting).

• I'd better not = the negative form of the structure:

Are you going out tonight? I'd better not. I've got a lot of work to do.

The use of IT'S TIME

• You may say "It's time" to make somebody do something, using this structure + infinitive to express your opinion or advice:

It's time (for us) to go home.

• You may criticize or complain, using this structure + the past tense (BUT a meaning is still in the present or in the past):

The windows are very dirty. I think it's time we cleaned them.

• To highlight criticism, you may use "It's high time" or "It's about time":

You are very selfish. It's high time you realized that you are not the only one in the world.

It's time, I'd rather, I'd better: practice

More information can be found here:

• Would rather / it's high time / had better (Slideshare)

Enjoy your practice:

• Would Rather & Prefer (Englishpedia)
• Had Better and Would Rather Exercise (Autoenglish)
• I'd better... I'd rather... (ToLearnEnglish)

You have done a lot of work, and now you can relax and sing a song!