Both would and had are used with rather in sentences such as I would rather (or had rather) go to the film than to the play. Had rather is less common and is now widely regarded as slightly old-fashioned
Use rather to specify a preference for one thing over another. Wouldn't you rather go to the movies than stay home and clean the house? Rather can also be used to mean "on the contrary," or to introduce a contradiction.
How to use 'rather', 'rather than' and 'would rather' in English. It is often difficult for learners of English to know when to use 'rather', 'rather than' or 'would rather'. The explanation below should help clarify things.
Rather, Rather than, Would Rather: how and when to use them.| Learn ...
In homage to my children’s favorite car game, here is the Go Ask Dad version of Would You Rather. Would you rather spend your weekend driving your kids to extracurriculars or have them drive you up ...
Bustle: 243 Funny "Would You Rather" Questions To Liven Up The Party
Would You Rather — the game we’ve all played since our debuts on this earth — is as thought-provoking now as it was when we were asking each other “Would you rather be able to fly or turn invisible?” ...
New York Post: Most Americans would rather endure these annoying things than pick an insurance plan
Has enrolling in insurance become too much of a painful process? A number of Americans would rather deal with endless traffic than sit down and sort through insurance options. The poll of 2,000 U.S.