B: I'd rather stay in tonight. (Preferiría quedarme en casa esta noche.)
This expression goes with an infinitive (without to) and expresses a present preference, e.g.:
| A: How about going to the cinema this evening? (¿Qué tal si vamos al cine esta tarde?) B: I'd rather stay in tonight. (Preferiría quedarme en casa esta noche.) |
| Bill would rather suffer in silence than express his feelings. (Bill prefiere padecer en silencio antes de expresar sus sentimientos.) |
When the preference relates to a different person, then the verb form is past, e.g.:
| C: Can Geoff park his car in the garage? (¿Geoff puede aparcar su coche en el garaje?) D: I'd rather he left it on the road. (Preferiría que lo dejara en la calle.) |
