Would rather, had better and it's time: the couch crisis – exercises on preferences, warnings and it's time

This B2 drill lesson gives would rather and had better exercises, plus it's (high) time, for preferences, strong advice and things that should happen now.

Grammar: Would rather + base form or + another person + past simple, had better (not) + base form, it's time to or it's (high) time + subject + past, and 'd as would or had.
Topic: Roommates: a group chat about a cousin who came for a weekend and stayed nineteen nights, his room-wanted post and a chat with Ximena, all invented.
Activities: Sorting, choices, gap-fills, tables, matching, word order, find-the-mistake quizzes, drag-and-drop messages, a memory game, an anagram, a chat and a test.

What's inside

Chapter 1The rule
- PictureUnlock
- Study the scheme: would rather, had better, it's timeGrammar schemeTry it
- Is the sentence correct? Mark true or falseTrue or falseUnlock
- Sort the sentences: 'd = would or 'd = had?Sort into columnsTry it
- Choose the right formChoose the optionUnlock
- Fill in the gaps: one missing wordFill in the gapsUnlock
Chapter 2I'd rather…: my choice, your choice
- Fill in the gaps with would rather: what people preferFill in the gapsTry it
- Choose the right words: me or someone else?Choose the optionUnlock
- Fill in the table: me or another person?Fill in the tableUnlock
- Match the questions and the answersMatchUnlock
- Find the mistake and choose the right words: would ratherQuizUnlock
- Put the words in the right order: would ratherUnjumbleUnlock
- Read Soraya's message and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
Chapter 3You'd better…: warnings and advice
- Fill in the gaps with had better: warnings and adviceFill in the gapsUnlock
- Choose the right form: had betterChoose the optionTry it
- Match the situations and the warningsMatchUnlock
- Find the mistake and choose the right words: had betterQuizUnlock
- Fill in the table: positive and negativeFill in the tableUnlock
- Put the words in the right order: had betterUnjumbleUnlock
- Read the coach's message and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
Chapter 4It's high time! All three together
- Fill in the gaps: It's time…Fill in the gapsUnlock
- Choose the right words: to + verb or subject + past?Choose the optionUnlock
- Fill in the table: it's timeFill in the tableTry it
- Choose the right word: preference or warning?Choose the optionUnlock
- Choose the correct sentenceQuizUnlock
- Match the beginnings and the endingsMatchUnlock
- Read Tabitha's message and fill in the gapsFill in the gapsUnlock
Chapter 5Real life: Nineteen nights on the couch
- Read the roommates' group chatReal-life documentUnlock
- Read the messages again: true or false?True or falseUnlock
- Read Femi's message to his cousin and fill in the gapsFill in the gapsUnlock
- Read Tunde's post and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
- Choose the right replies: Ximena texts youChatTry it
- Test yourself: choose the right answerQuizUnlock
Chapter 6Homework
- Choose the right form: everyday choicesChoose the optionUnlock
- Fill in the gaps with would rather: plans and preferencesFill in the gapsUnlock
- Fill in the gaps with had better: before a tripFill in the gapsUnlock
- Put the words in the right order: preferences and warningsUnjumbleUnlock
- Fill in the table: say it another wayFill in the tableUnlock
- Sort the sentences: correct or wrong?Sort into columnsUnlock
- Match the sentences with the same meaningMatchUnlock
- Find the matching pairs: verb and past simpleMemory gameUnlock
- Unscramble the past simple formsAnagramUnlock
- Find the mistake and choose the right words: everyday EnglishQuizUnlock
- Choose the right answer: 'd = had or would?QuizUnlock
- Choose the right words: it's timeChoose the optionUnlock
- Fill in the gaps: preferences, warnings and complaintsFill in the gapsUnlock
- Read Ms. Abernathy's email and fill in the gapsFill in the gapsUnlock
- Read Leandro's review and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock

Grammar: would rather, had better and it's time

Three fixed phrases share this lesson. Would rather says what you prefer, had better gives strong advice or a warning, often with or and a bad result, and it's time says something should happen now. In both I'd rather and I'd better, a base form follows, never to or -ing.

Would rather, had better, it's time: what I prefer, what you should do

My choice: would rather + base form. What I want you to do: would rather + you + past. A warning: had better + base form. Now, not later: it's time.

Would rather + base form: my choice

I'd rather eat at home tonight. She'd rather not talk about it. With than, both verbs keep the base form: We'd rather walk than take a taxi. Here 'd stands for would, and I'd prefer to stay means the same as I'd rather stay.

would rather + base form: what I prefer

subjectwould rather ('d rather)(not) + base form(than + base form)

I'd rather eat at home tonight.

She'd rather not talk about it.

We'd rather walk than take a taxi.

'd = would or had? · than · prefer

I'd rather = I would rather. I'd better = I had better. Both take the base form, never to or -ing. (Elsewhere, 'd + past participle = had: She'd left; 'd + base form = would: I'd go.) With than, use the base form both times: I'd rather cook than order pizza. would prefer to = would rather: I'd prefer to stay = I'd rather stay.

Would rather + another person + past simple

To say what you want someone else to do, add that person and the past simple, which still means now or later: I'd rather you came on Saturday, not Friday. My mom would rather we were home by ten. The polite refusal is I'd rather you didn't.

subjectwould ratheranother personpast simple (= now or later)

I'd rather you came on Saturday, not Friday.

My mom would rather we were home by ten.

Can I open the window? — I'd rather you didn't.

Had better (not) + base form: a warning

Had better is for now or soon and has one form for every person: You'd better leave now, or you'll miss the train. Its negative is 'd better not, never hadn't better, and questions use should instead: Should we wait?

had better (not) + base form: strong advice

subjecthad better ('d better)(not) + base form

You'd better leave now, or you'll miss the train.

We'd better not wake the baby.

It's midnight. I'd better go.

Positive, negative, question

Form	would rather	had better
Positive (+)	I'd rather wait. (I'd = I would)	You'd better wait. (you'd = you had)
Negative (−)	I'd rather not wait. (not: I wouldn't rather)	You'd better not wait. (not: you hadn't better)
Question (?)	Would you rather wait or go?	rare in questions: Should we wait?
Another person	I'd rather you waited. · I'd rather you didn't wait.	the same form for all: I / you / she / we / they'd better wait
Short answer	Want to come? — I'd rather not.	Should I call him? — Yes, you'd better.
Time	now or later: I'd rather go tomorrow.	now or soon: You'd better go now.

It's time: to + verb or subject + past

With no subject after time, use to: It's time to go. With a subject, use the past simple for now: It's time we paid the rent. High or about adds that it's late already, and be becomes were: It's time you were asleep.

It's time: to + verb or subject + past?

It's time (for someone) + to + verb

no subject after time → to + verb: it's the right moment
It's time to go. · It's time for the kids to sleep.
with a noun: It's time for lunch.

It's (high / about) time + subject + past

a subject after time → past simple: it should happen now; high / about = it's late already
It's time we paid the rent. · It's high time you got a job.
It's about time you called! (impatient)

Past form, present meaning · You better

After would rather + another person and it's (high) time + subject, the past simple talks about now or later, as after I wish: I'd rather you came tomorrow. For be, use were (was is fine with I, he, she, it): It's time you were asleep. In casual American speech, people say "You better…"; in writing, use you'd better.

Common mistakes

Watch for I'd rather to stay in, You'd better not to drive, It's time we go home and I'd rather you will call me later. Rather and better never take to, and a second subject takes the past.

I'd rather to stay in tonight.
I'd rather stay in tonight.
would rather + base form, no to
You'd better not to drive.
You'd better not drive.
had better not + base form
It's time we go home.
It's time we went home.
it's time + subject + past simple
I'd rather you will call me later.
I'd rather you called me later.
another person → past simple

More lessons on this grammar: Third and mixed conditionals lessons and exercises · Modal verbs lessons and exercises

Try the would rather and had better exercises

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What's in the lesson

40 auto-checked exercises
5 games
1 real-life document
1 grammar scheme
1 picture

The main objectives of this lesson are to:

say what you prefer with would rather, keeping the base form after than: I'd rather walk than wait for the bus in the rain.
say what you want someone else to do with would rather + past simple: I'd rather you didn't tell Sam about the party.
warn with had better (not) + base form: You'd better not touch it, not You'd better not to touch it or You hadn't better
say something should happen now: It's time to leave for the airport. It's high time you found a job.
tell 'd = would from 'd = had: She'd rather stay with her aunt. She'd better apologize.

Grammar:: would rather · had better · it's time · would rather + past simple · it's high time
Topic:: grammar practice · roommates · preferences and advice · everyday life

Teaching tips

Play Would you rather…? in pairs: each student writes two choices on a card (sit by the window or near the door), asks a partner and gets an answer with I'd rather… than….
Hear the 'd before the sort: read out short lines such as She'd better call back and She'd rather not say; students hold up a card with had or would.
Hold the roommates' house meeting: after the group chat, groups of three agree on rules for Tunde, each person using it's time, I'd rather he… or he'd better… at least once.

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The whole course: English Grammar Practice · B2

English Grammar Practice · B2 has 24 drill lessons, one grammar point each: the future perfect and continuous, the third and mixed conditionals, wishes, past modals, the impersonal passive, have something done, participle clauses, reporting verbs and verb patterns. Each has the rule as a scheme, 43 to 47 exercises that check themselves, 15 of them for homework, and no new words.See the course

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