1. would rather表示一种心理愿望，意思为：宁愿。表示主语本人的愿望时，接动词原形；表示对他人的愿望、想法时，现在和将来的情况用过去时表示；过去的情况用过去完成时表示。如：

I’d rather do it by myself. 我宁愿独自一人去做那件事。

I’d rather you came tomorrow. 我倒想要你明天来。

I’d rather you had finished it yesterday. 我倒想你昨天就做完了

2. would rather的否定形式为在rather后加not，但变疑问句时，往往只将would提到句首。如：

I’d rather not tell you about it. 我倒想不告诉你为好。

Would you rather give the chance up? 你宁愿把机会放弃吗？

3. would rather常与than连用，would rather…than…，意思是：宁愿…而不…。有时，也可写成：than…，would rather…的形式，意义不变。如：

I’d rather die than give in. 我宁愿死，也不会屈服。

Than steal, I’d rather die of hunger,  我宁愿饿死，也不会去偷。

在这一结构中，than后面与前面相同的部分场被省略，只保留不同的部分。如：

I’d rather watch TV than ( I )go to the cinema. 我宁愿看电视也不愿去看电影。(省略主语，保留谓语部分)

I’d rather play football than (I play) basketball. 我宁愿踢足球也不愿打篮球。(省略主语和谓语，保留宾语)

I would rather go by bike than (I go ) by bus. 我宁愿骑单车也不愿坐公共汽车。(省略主语和谓语，保留方式状语)

I’d rather be healthy than (I’m) rich. 与其有钱，不如身体健康。(省略主语和系动词，保留表语部分)

I would rather do it slowly than (I do it ) carelessly. 与其粗心，还不如慢一点。(省略主语和谓语，保留副词状语)