一、后接动词原形
后接动词原形，表示“宁愿做某事”。如：
I'd rather be told the truth than be lied to. 我宁愿听真话，不愿被欺骗。
I've already seen that film, so I'd rather see another one. 我已经看过那部电影了，所以还是看部别的吧。
I'll go if you're going. If not, I'd rather stay at home. 你去我就去，否则我宁可待在家里。
I'd rather do it without anybody's help. 我宁愿不要任何人帮助，自己干这件事。
“How about a drink?” “I'd rather have something to eat.”“喝一杯怎么样?”“我宁愿来点吃的。”
注：would rather的否定式，通常要将not置于rather之后。如：
I'd rather not say anything. 我宁可什么也不说。
二、后接完成式动词
后接完成式动词，表示过去的想法，通常可译为“(本来)宁愿做某事”。如：
We went by sea, but I' d rather have gone by air. 我们是乘船去的，可我本想乘飞机去。
“At that time, I would rather have been a factory worker than an animal keeper,” he said. “那时，我宁愿做一个工厂工人，也不愿做动物饲养员，”他说道。
三、后接从句
后接从句时，从句谓语要用虚拟语气。具体说来，有以下两种情况：
1. 指现在或将来用过去时。如：
I would rather you didn't mention the price. 我愿意你别提价钱。
I'd rather you knew that now, than afterwards. 我宁愿你现在知道而不是以后。
Don't come and see me today—I'd rather you came tomorrow. 今天不要来看我——我希望你们明天来。
Tomorrow's difficult. I'd rather yon came next weekend. 明天有困难。我希望你下周末来。
“We might go for a swim” “No,l'd rather we didn't.” “我们去游泳吧。”“不，我想我们最好不去。”
“Shall I give you a cheque?” “I' d rather you paid cash.” “我付给您支票行吗?”“我想您最好付现金。”
Ann said that Bill wanted to go alone but that she'd rather he went with a group. 安说比尔想一个人去，但她宁愿他跟一大群人一起去。
2. 指过去用过去完成时。如：
I'd rather he hadn't told me about it 我宁愿他未告诉我这件事。
Kate went by car and I'd rather she hadn't. 凯特是坐汽车去的，我倒愿意她不是坐汽车去的。
I'd rather she had asked me before borrowing the car. 我真希望她先问我一声再借车。
注：有时用于虚拟语气语境中。如：
If I'd lived in 1400, I'd rather have been a knight than a monk. 如果我生活在1400年，我宁愿当骑士，不当修道士。
If she'd had a chance, she'd rather have lived 100 years ago. 如果有机会她宁愿生活在100年前。
四、用于would rather…than…结构
此结构表示“宁愿(做)……而不愿(做)……”。如：
I'd rather go hungry than eat that! 我宁可挨饿也不吃那种东西!
I' d rather pay his fine for him than let him go to prison. 我宁愿替他交罚款，也不愿让他蹲监狱。
He would rather have the small one than (have) the large one. 他宁愿要小的那个，而不愿要大的。
I'd rather use my money than leave it lying in the bank. 我宁可把钱花了也不想存在银行里。
I'd rather have a room of my own. however small (it is), than share a room. 无论房间多么小，我宁愿一个人住一间，而不愿意与别人合住一个房间。
五、用于口语表达I'd rather not
口语中说I'd rather not，表示委婉的不同意，其意为“我宁愿不……”。如：
“Are you coming with us?” “I'd rather not.” “你和我们一起来吗?“”我不想。”
“Some more wine” “Thank you. I'd rather not. I have to drive home.” “再来一点酒好吗？”“不要了，我不能再喝了。我还得开车回家呢。”
The boys' d rather go by air, wouldn't they? 男孩子更愿意坐飞机走，对吗?
You'd rather not wake a sleeping dog, would you? 你总不想没事找麻烦，对吧?