English grammar
Would Rather
Expresses a personal preference. In everyday speech, the most common form by far is "I'd rather + base verb", used when you're talking about what YOU want to do: "I'd rather stay home." "I'd rather not talk about it." "I'd rather cry than laugh." For preferring what someone ELSE does, English shifts to "I'd rather + subject + past simple": "I'd rather you didn't smoke." "She'd rather we left now." This second form is rarer in unscripted conversation and carries a slightly more formal or indirect tone.
I'd rather + base verb (same subject), or I'd rather + subject + past simple (different subject)
Real Examples from Native Speakers
"I'd rather be run through by a British bayonet and have my body buried in an unmarked grave than turn back after we have come this far."
Jamie And Claire’s Farewell Before Battle
How it works
Formula
I'd rather + base verb (same subject), or I'd rather + subject + past simple (different subject)
This page combines the textbook rule with real-world English: every example is an unscripted clip from a real native speaker. You're hearing how this grammar point sounds in real life, not in a classroom.