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 that party.
(a) stay
(b) to stay
(c) staying
2 I’d prefer ___ in a hotel instead of a hostel.
(a) stay
(b) to stay
(c) staying
3 Would you rather I ___ you tomorrow or later today?
(a) call
(b) called
(c) to call
4 I’d rather you ___ talk to me like that.
(a) didn’t
(b) don’t
(c) not
5 I’d prefer to travel by train ___ by plane.
(a) than
(b) rather
(c) instead
6 I’d rather not ___ out tonight.
(a) going
(b) to go
(c) go
7 I’d prefer ___ to be disturbed right now.
(a) not
(b) not to
(c) don’t
8 Would you rather ___ a film or go for a walk?
(a) to watch
(b) watch
(c) watching
9 I’d rather we ___ now before it gets dark.
(a) left
(b) leave
(c) will leave
10 I’d rather you ___ tell anyone about this.
(a) didn’t
(b) don’t
(c) not
11 I’d prefer ___ home than go to that noisy restaurant.
(a) stay
(b) to stay
(c) staying
12 I’d rather you ___ arrive late again.
(a) won’t
(b) didn’t
(c) don’t
13 I’d rather ___ pizza than pasta.
(a) have
(b) to have
(c) having
14 I’d prefer not ___ now; I’m busy.
(a) talking
(b) talk
(c) to talk
15 Would you rather I ___ your name on the list?
(a) add
(b) added
(c) will add
16 I’d rather ___ it myself, thanks.
(a) to do
(b) doing
(c) do
17 I’d prefer you ___ to me directly next time.
(a) talk
(b) to talk
(c) talked
18 I’d rather not ___ that topic; it makes me uncomfortable.
(a) discuss
(b) to discuss
(c) discussing
19 Would you prefer I ___ you back tomorrow morning?
(a) call
(b) called
(c) to call
20 I’d rather we ___ the meeting until Friday.
(a) postpone
(b) postponed
(c) will postpone
Section B – Gap-Fill Sentences (15 questions)
Complete each sentence with the correct form.
21 I’d rather __________ (stay) at home than go out in this weather.
22 I’d prefer __________ (take) a taxi instead of walking.
23 I’d rather you __________ (not smoke) in the house.
24 I’d prefer __________ (not go) to that noisy café.
25 I’d rather __________ (watch) a movie than listen to the news.
26 I’d rather we __________ (leave) now.
27 I’d prefer __________ (have) dinner at that Italian restaurant.
28 I’d rather you __________ (tell) me honestly.
29 I’d prefer it if you __________ (come) on time next time.
30 I’d rather __________ (not discuss) this in public.
31 I’d rather you __________ (drive) more carefully.
32 I’d rather __________ (do) it myself.
33 I’d prefer __________ (not work) on weekends.
34 I’d rather __________ (walk) than take the bus.
35 I’d rather you __________ (not interrupt) me when I’m talking.
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 make that mistake again.
39 I’d prefer if you come earlier next time.
40 I’d rather not to talk about it.
41 I’d rather you didn’t to tell anyone.
42 I’d prefer not go to that place again.
43 I’d rather we to leave before 8 p.m.
44 I’d rather to walk than take the bus.
45 I’d rather you don’t smoke in my room.
Section D – Sentence Transformation (10 questions)
Rewrite each sentence using the given words.
46 I prefer coffee to tea.
→ I’d rather __________ coffee than __________ tea.
47 I’d prefer you not to be late again.
→ I’d rather you __________ late again.
48 I’d rather you didn’t tell anyone.
→ I’d prefer it if you __________ anyone.
49 I’d prefer not to go out tonight.
→ I’d rather __________ out tonight.
50 I’d rather we met tomorrow.
→ I’d prefer it if we __________ tomorrow.
51 I prefer staying home to going out.
→ I’d rather __________ home than __________ out.
52 I’d rather you didn’t smoke here.
→ I’d prefer it if you __________ here.
53 I’d rather not see him today.
→ I’d prefer __________ him today.
54 I’d prefer to eat at home than at a restaurant.
→ I’d rather __________ at home than __________ at a restaurant.
55 I’d rather you told me the truth.
→ I’d prefer it if you __________ me the truth.
Section E – Short Reading (5 questions)
When expressing preferences in English, both “would rather” and “would prefer” are used, but they differ in tone. “Would rather” is common in conversation and shows direct personal choice, while “would prefer” is more formal or polite.
We use “would rather” with a bare infinitive (I’d rather go) and “would rather + subject + past verb” for someone else’s actions (I’d rather you didn’t go). “Would prefer” is used with “to + infinitive” (I’d prefer to go) or “it if + subject + past verb” (I’d prefer it if you came).
56 Which structure is used for someone else’s action with “would rather”?
(a) bare infinitive
(b) subject + past verb
(c) to + infinitive
57 Which structure follows “would prefer” for a polite suggestion?
(a) to + infinitive
(b) past perfect
(c) continuous form
58 “Would rather” is generally more:
(a) formal
(b) conversational
(c) indirect
59 “Would prefer it if you came” expresses:
(a) past preference
(b) polite present preference
(c) strong obligation
60 What is the main difference between the two expressions?
(a) Meaning
(b) Tone and formality
(c) Tense
Answer
1 (a) stay – Would rather + bare infinitive.
2 (b) to stay – Would prefer + to + infinitive.
3 (b) called – Unreal past after would rather.
4 (a) didn’t – Would rather + subject + past verb.
5 (a) than – Comparative expression for preference.
6 (c) go – Would rather (not) + bare infinitive.
7 (b) not to – Would prefer (not) + to + infinitive.
8 (b) watch – Would rather + V (bare infinitive).
9 (a) left – Unreal past time after would rather we + past verb.
10 (a) didn’t – Would rather + subject + past verb.
11 (b) to stay – Would prefer + to + infinitive.
12 (b) didn’t – Unreal past form.
13 (a) have – Would rather + bare infinitive.
14 (c) to talk – Would prefer (not) + to + infinitive.
15 (b) added – Would rather + subject + past verb.
16 (c) do – Would rather + bare infinitive.
17 (c) talked – Would prefer + subject + past verb.
18 (a) discuss – Would rather (not) + bare infinitive.
19 (b) called – Would prefer it if + subject + past verb.
20 (b) postponed – Unreal past for future preference.
21 stay
22 to take
23 didn’t smoke
24 not to go
25 watch
26 left
27 to have
28 told
29 came
30 not discuss
31 drove
32 do
33 not to work
34 walk
35 didn’t interrupt
36 ✗ to stay → ✓ stay
37 ✗ go → ✓ to go
38 ✗ don’t make → ✓ didn’t make
39 ✗ if you come → ✓ it if you came
40 ✗ not to talk → ✓ not talk
41 ✗ didn’t to tell → ✓ didn’t tell
42 ✗ not go → ✓ not to go
43 ✗ to leave → ✓ left
44 ✗ to walk → ✓ walk
45 ✗ don’t smoke → ✓ didn’t smoke
46 drink / have – Would rather + V + than + V.
47 didn’t be → Would rather + subject + past verb.
48 didn’t tell – Unreal form for polite refusal.
49 not go – Would rather (not) + bare infinitive.
50 met – Would prefer it if + past verb.
51 stay / go – Would rather + V + than + V.
52 didn’t smoke – Would prefer it if + past verb.
53 not to see – Would prefer (not) + to + infinitive.
54 eat / eat – Would rather + V + than + V.
55 told – Would prefer it if + past verb.
56 (b) – “Would rather + subject + past verb” → for others’ actions.
57 (a) – “Would prefer + to + infinitive” for polite suggestions.
58 (b) – “Would rather” is direct and conversational.
59 (b) – It expresses polite present preference.
60 (b) – Difference lies in tone and formality, not meaning.