确定 would rather 的动作是谁发出的,才能准确使用它
在英语中,would rather 常用来表达偏好,相当于 would prefer,通常表达偏好的人是句子的主语,但是有的时候偏好的人不是句中的主语,那么动作到底是谁发出的呢?这需要从 would rather 的两种不同的结构讲起。
一、would rather
1. 肯定句
在肯定句中,would rather 常缩略为 'd rather ,结构是:主语 + would rather + 不带 to 不定式,此时句中的动作是主语要发出或已发出的,例如:
Peter'd rather spend time on the beach.
彼得宁愿花时间在海滩上。
I would rather learn a new language than study math.
我宁愿学一门新语言也不愿学数学。
She would rather have spent the money on a holiday.
她宁愿把钱花在度假上。
解析:此句意思是 The money wasn’t spent on a holiday.
2. 疑问句
在疑问句中,结构是 would + 主语 + rather + 不带 to 不定式,此时句中的动作是主语要发出的,例如:
Would you rather stay at home?
你宁愿呆在家里吗?
Would they rather do homework tomorrow morning?
他们宁愿明天早上做作业吗?
3. 否定句
在否定句中,结构是:would rather ('d rather) + not + 不带 to 不定式,此时句中的动作是主语要发出的,例如:
She'd rather not go to class today.
她宁愿今天不去上课。
I'd rather not dwell on the past.
我不想再沉湎于过去了。
二、would rather … than
Would rather 常与 than 连用,用于在两个特定的动作中做出选择,此时句中的动作是主语要发出的或已发出的,would rather 和 than 后面接对等的成分,当前后动词一样时,可以省略后面的动词,例如:
Would you rather eat dinner out than cook dinner tonight?
今晚你宁愿在外面吃饭也不愿做饭吗?
She would rather play tennis than go horseback riding.
她宁愿打网球也不愿骑马。
I would rather have an apple than a pear. I don't like pears.
我宁愿吃苹果也不愿吃梨。我不喜欢梨。
解析:than 后面接的动词跟 would rather 后面接的都是 have,所以 than 后面的 have 可以省略。
I'd rather live in the north than the south, because I like snow.
我宁愿住在北方也不愿住在南方,因为我喜欢雪。
He would rather have gone out than stayed.
他宁愿出去也不愿留下来。
解析:此句意思是 He stayed.