I'd rather

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I'd rather
Message de nanoo9 posté le 17-07-2011 à 19:02:02 (S | E | F)
Hello everybody

I don't understand this correction
Do you mind if I tell you the truth? Humm! I'D RATHER YOU DIDN'T

can you explain me why we answer with preterite "didn't" despite the fact that in the question we use present tense "do you mind" and "tell"?
Thank you for your help.

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Modifié par lucile83 le 17-07-2011 19:11

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Réponse: I'd rather de sherry48, postée le 17-07-2011 à 19:26:30 (S | E)
Hello nanoo9,

You can think of it as the "unreal past" tense.
When we speak about an action that we prefer, or don't prefer, we use I'd rather + past tense, therefore I'd rather (that) you didn't, or I'd rather (that) you did. Other phrases for hypothetical situations, including supposing, if only, what if, or the verb to wish, would follow the same rule.
Sherry

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Modifié par sherry48 le 17-07-2011 19:27

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Modifié par lucile83 le 17-07-2011 20:54

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Réponse: I'd rather de willy, postée le 17-07-2011 à 19:48:23 (S | E)
Hello!

Just have a look at the following examples to understand how it works:

- I'd rather you told me the truth.
- My brother would rather we went home as soon as possible.
- She'd rather her friends left her alone.

- I'd rather you had told me the truth.
- My brother would rather we had gone home earlier.
- She'd rather her friends had left her alone.

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Réponse: I'd rather de silky, postée le 18-07-2011 à 04:08:30 (S | E)
Hello Nanoo 99,

Comme vous le voyez dans les exemples de Willy, I'd rather peut être suivi du "past simple" ou du "past perfect". Tous deux correspondent à un subjonctif français.

1. I'd rather you told (past simple) me the truth = subjonctif présent en français.

(Je préfèrerais que tu me dises la vérité -maintenant ou plus tard-)

2. I'd rather you had told (past perfect) me the truth = subjonctif passé en français)

(Je préfèrerais que tu m'aies dit la vérité - dans le passé- )

Best wishes

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