Would rather, would prefer – English Grammar Test for B2
Grammar » Grammar Test for B2 » Would rather, would prefer – English Grammar Test for B2
Section A – Multiple Choice (20 questions)
Choose the correct answer.
1 I’d rather ___ at home tonight than go to a party.
(a) stay
(b) to stay
(c) staying
2 I’d prefer ___ by train than drive there.
(a) travel
(b) to travel
(c) travelling
3 Would you rather I ___ you now or later?
(a) call
(b) called
(c) will call
4 I’d rather you ___ talk so loudly.
(a) didn’t
(b) don’t
(c) not
5 I’d prefer to stay in ___ go out.
(a) that
(b) instead
(c) rather than
6 I’d rather not ___ about it anymore.
(a) talking
(b) to talk
(c) talk
7 I’d prefer ___ (not) to argue in front of everyone.
(a) to
(b) not
(c) no
8 Would you prefer ___ dinner at home or in a restaurant?
(a) to have
(b) having
(c) have
9 I’d rather we ___ now before it gets dark.
(a) leave
(b) left
(c) will leave
10 I’d rather you ___ help me right away.
(a) will
(b) helped
(c) help
11 He’d rather you didn’t ___ about this to anyone.
(a) say
(b) to say
(c) said
12 I’d prefer ___ with you tomorrow.
(a) go
(b) going
(c) to go
13 I’d rather not ___ fast food tonight.
(a) eating
(b) eat
(c) to eat
14 I’d rather ___ a movie than go to bed early.
(a) watch
(b) to watch
(c) watching
15 I’d prefer you ___ me next time before changing plans.
(a) tell
(b) to tell
(c) told
16 I’d rather ___ my own car than use the bus.
(a) drive
(b) driving
(c) to drive
17 Would you rather your friend ___ you honestly or not at all?
(a) spoke to
(b) speaks to
(c) will speak to
18 I’d prefer not ___ out on Sunday evenings.
(a) go
(b) to go
(c) going
19 I’d rather you didn’t ___ anything about this.
(a) saying
(b) said
(c) say
20 I’d rather ___ here until it stops raining.
(a) stay
(b) to stay
(c) staying
Section B – Gap-Fill Sentences (15 questions)
Complete each sentence with the correct form.
21 I’d rather __________ (stay) at home tonight.
22 I’d prefer __________ (go) somewhere quiet this weekend.
23 I’d rather you __________ (not come) late again.
24 I’d prefer __________ (not take) that risk.
25 I’d rather __________ (walk) than drive in this traffic.
26 I’d rather you __________ (tell) me the truth now.
27 I’d prefer it if you __________ (arrive) on time.
28 I’d rather __________ (not discuss) this topic any further.
29 I’d rather we __________ (meet) tomorrow morning.
30 I’d prefer __________ (have) lunch at that new restaurant.
31 I’d rather you __________ (not park) here.
32 I’d rather __________ (go) out tonight; I’m too tired.
33 I’d prefer __________ (stay) at home instead of going out.
34 I’d rather __________ (do) it myself.
35 I’d rather you __________ (not mention) this to anyone.
Section C – Error Correction (10 questions)
Find and correct the mistake.
36 I’d rather to stay home tonight.
37 I’d prefer go out instead of staying here.
38 I’d rather you don’t smoke in my room.
39 I’d prefer if you come earlier next time.
40 I’d rather not to eat spicy food.
41 I’d rather you didn’t to tell anyone.
42 I’d prefer not go to that place again.
43 I’d rather to walk than take the bus.
44 I’d rather we to leave now before it rains.
45 I’d rather you don’t make that mistake again.
Section D – Sentence Transformation (10 questions)
Rewrite each sentence without changing its meaning.
46 I prefer coffee to tea.
→ I’d rather __________ coffee than __________ tea.
47 I’d rather you didn’t shout.
→ I’d prefer it if you __________ shout.
48 I prefer staying at home to going out.
→ I’d rather __________ at home than __________ out.
49 I’d rather you didn’t tell him.
→ I’d prefer it if you __________ him.
50 I prefer not to go out tonight.
→ I’d rather __________ out tonight.
51 I’d prefer to eat at home than in a restaurant.
→ I’d rather __________ at home than __________ in a restaurant.
52 I’d rather you didn’t drive so fast.
→ I’d prefer it if you __________ so fast.
53 I prefer to relax than to work late.
→ I’d rather __________ than __________ late.
54 I’d rather not watch that movie again.
→ I’d prefer __________ that movie again.
55 I’d rather we met tomorrow.
→ I’d prefer it if we __________ tomorrow.
Section E – Short Reading (5 questions)
Many English speakers use “would rather” and “would prefer” to express their choices. For personal and direct preferences, people usually say “I’d rather.” It sounds natural and informal. However, in polite or business settings, “I’d prefer” is more appropriate.
For example, “I’d rather stay home” sounds friendly, while “I’d prefer to stay home” sounds polite. Both mean the same thing, but the tone is different.
We can also use these forms for other people’s actions: “I’d rather you didn’t smoke here” or “I’d prefer it if you didn’t smoke here.” The first is firm, the second is more diplomatic.
56 “I’d rather” is mostly used in:
(a) formal situations
(b) informal speech
(c) academic writing
57 “I’d prefer” is more suitable for:
(a) business or polite settings
(b) casual talk
(c) sports commentary
58 What is the difference between the two phrases?
(a) Meaning
(b) Tone
(c) Grammar only
59 Which expression sounds more diplomatic?
(a) I’d rather you didn’t smoke here.
(b) I’d prefer it if you didn’t smoke here.
(c) I’d rather not smoke here.
60 What is the main point of the passage?
(a) To explain grammar rules of verb tenses
(b) To show when to use “would rather” or “would prefer”
(c) To describe differences between American and British English
Answer
1 (a) stay – Would rather + bare infinitive.
2 (b) to travel – Would prefer + to + infinitive.
3 (b) called – Would rather + subject + past verb (unreal).
4 (a) didn’t – Unreal form for others’ actions.
5 (c) rather than – Comparative expression.
6 (c) talk – Would rather (not) + bare infinitive.
7 (a) to – Would prefer (not) + to + infinitive.
8 (a) to have – Would prefer + to + infinitive.
9 (b) left – Unreal time after would rather we + past verb.
10 (b) helped – Would rather + subject + past verb.
11 (a) say – Would rather you didn’t + bare infinitive (past form in meaning).
12 (c) to go – Would prefer + to + infinitive.
13 (b) eat – Would rather (not) + bare infinitive.
14 (a) watch – Would rather + V + than + V.
15 (c) told – Would prefer + object + to + infinitive.
16 (a) drive – Would rather + bare infinitive.
17 (a) spoke to – Unreal past after would rather + subject.
18 (b) to go – Would prefer (not) + to + infinitive.
19 (c) say – Would rather you didn’t + base verb.
20 (a) stay – Would rather + bare infinitive.
21 stay
22 to go
23 didn’t come
24 not to take
25 walk
26 told
27 came
28 not discuss
29 met
30 to have
31 didn’t park
32 not go
33 to stay
34 do
35 didn’t mention
36 ✗ to stay → ✓ stay
37 ✗ go → ✓ to go
38 ✗ don’t smoke → ✓ didn’t smoke
39 ✗ if you come → ✓ it if you came
40 ✗ not to eat → ✓ not eat
41 ✗ didn’t to tell → ✓ didn’t tell
42 ✗ not go → ✓ not to go
43 ✗ to walk → ✓ walk
44 ✗ to leave → ✓ left
45 ✗ don’t make → ✓ didn’t make
46 drink / have – Would rather + V + than + V.
47 didn’t – Would prefer it if + past verb.
48 stay / go – Comparison with would rather + than.
49 didn’t tell – Unreal form for others.
50 not go – Would rather (not) + bare infinitive.
51 eat / eat – Would rather + V + than + V.
52 didn’t drive – Would prefer it if + past verb.
53 relax / work – Would rather + V + than + V.
54 not to watch – Would prefer (not) + to + infinitive.
55 met – Would prefer it if + past verb.
56 (b) – I’d rather is informal and direct.
57 (a) – I’d prefer suits formal or polite situations.
58 (b) – Difference is tone, not meaning.
59 (b) – More diplomatic tone.
60 (b) – The passage explains when to use each expression.