Would Rather/Would Sooner

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in brackets:

1. I would rather ____________ a light salad than a steak for dinner. (have)
2. I would rather he ________________his dirty cups all over the house. (not leave)
3. Venice was nice but I’d sooner __________________ to Paris. (go)
4. He’s quite antisocial he’d just as soon ____________ video games all weekend than go to a
bar. (play)
5. I wanted to give the present to granny! I’d rather you _______________ for me to arrive
before you gave it to her. (wait)
6. We had dinner outside but it was too cold. I’d much rather ______________ inside the
restaurant. (eat)

Complete the key word transformations using 3-6 words.

1. My brother is always stealing my chocolate out of the fridge.

RATHER

I’d _______________________________________ my chocolate out of the fridge.

2. Why did you tell the boss I was leaving?

RATHER

I ____________________________________ the boss I was leaving.

3. I prefer visiting museums to lying around on the beach all day.

JUST

I ____________________________ than lie around on the beach all day.

4. The chocolates he gave me were ok but I wanted roses.

RATHER

I _____________________________ me roses instead of chocolates.

5. The art gallery was sooo boring; I wanted to go to the casino.

RATHER

I _______________________________ to the casino instead of that boring art gallery.

6. He would prefer to do anything instead of watching a football match.

SOONER

He ___________________________________ anything instead of watching a football match.

Role-play

Role-play the following scenario with your partner:

You are a married couple; you have been married for 23 years. You have just got back from a party
at a friend’s house. At the party you both got drunk and did a lot of things to annoy your
husband/wife. You are both also annoyed about some things that the other does or doesn’t do
around the house. Have a civilised argument using as many “would rathers” and “would sooners” as
you can.
Key
Sentence Completion

1. Have
2. Didn’t leave
3. Have gone
4. Play
5. Had waited
6. Have eaten

Key Word Transformations

1. Rather my brother didn’t steal

2. Would rather you hadn’t told
3. Would just as soon visit museums
4. Would rather he had given
5. Would rather have gone
6. Would soon do