This part deals with the present thinking of someone about a present situation.  Here one imagines a non-fact to be an actual fact.  This is wishful thinking of someone and naturally beyond their capacity.  We use the past tense after ‘Wish’ to imagine  a non-fact to be an actual fact.  We express our regret that something is not as we would like it to be. It can be viewed in three perspectives, viz (a) action-based) , (b) state based, (c) possession based.

EXAMPLES( action-based)

• I wish I could sing like him.( i.e I am not able to sing like him)
• They wish they could build a palatial house.( but they don’t have enough money)
• I wish I could run like P.T.Usha.( i.e I cannot run like P.T.Usha)
• She wishes she could pass the exam with a first class.(i.e but she knows she won’t be able to pass………….)
• I wish I could help you.( but I haven’t any money with me)
• I wish I knew his phone number. ( but I don’t know his phone number and I regret this)
• I wish it wasn’t/weren’t raining.( but it’s raining now)
• He wishes he didn’t have to work today. (but the fact is that he has got to work today)
• I wish I was enjoying myself.( here the indication is that I am not able to enjoy myself though I want to)
• I don’t feel well.  I wish I felt better.
• I wish he could understand me. (i.e he is not able to understand me)

Mental activity and mental impression are to be clearly distinguished. When native speakers won’t have any confusion as to what style should be used, foreign speakers are most likely to find it a hard nut to crack.The examples given below will elucidate the usage.

• I am thinking about the project we are planning to execute. (This is a mental activity. Here one is in the activity of thinking that can be explained progressively)
• I think you are right. (Here, one is not thinking about anything, rather this is a mental impression and the conclusion about a particular idea has been reached.)

Note :  Now the difference between ‘I am thinking’ and ‘I think’ is clear from the above examples. Normally only these two differences need be studied.  But there can be situations when one might be more puzzled or confused to hear “I am thinking you are right”.  Normally we don’t come across  situations like this. But that can be perfectly correct if the speaker is deliberately choosing this form to suggest that a certain conclusion is forming itself in their mind but is not yet final.

• I like my work. (This impression is final and therefore no vacillation as to whether I like the work or not.)
• I am liking my work. (suggests that the process of becoming adjusted to it is still going on)

However, until you are thorough with the differences between the usages the learner is advised not to use the progressive tense in both the cases.

This is a bit of  a difficult topic.  The learner is expected to sharpen his concentration more on the structural nuances than practical examples.  In this case,  be thorough with the structural rules first and work out as many examples as possible.  This usage is specially applicable when you want someone to do something with the connotation of showing your preference.  In this structure we use the past( i.e came, did, did not, asked, knew etc) but the meaning is present or future and NOT past.

COMPARE.

• I would rather cook the food.  ( here the speaker shows their preference of cooking the food.   Implied alternative choices are there of which the speaker shows their choice/interest.  Note that after ‘Would rather’,  the root form of the verb is used.)
• .
• I would rather you cooked the food.  Here the speaker shows their preference that they would like the other person/people to cook the food.( Note that after ‘Would rather’, the past form of the verb is used)

EXAMPLES.

• A:  May I go out now?
• B:  I would rather you didn’t( go out now).
• A:  Would you rather John came to see me?
• B:  Yes, I would rather John came to see you.
• B:  No, I would rather John didn’t come to see you.( i.e if the sentence is in the negative.
• A:  Shall I stay at the hostel?
• B:  No, I would rather you came with us.
• A:  Shall I tell her the news?
• B:  No, I would rather she didn’t know the news now.
• A:  Do you mind if I smoke?
• B:  I would rather you didn’t.( i.e didn’t smoke)
• A:  How will he go, by car or bus?
• B:  I would rather he went by bus.
• A:  What shall I give the baby? A cup of milk or tea?
• B:  I would rather you gave him a cup of milk.
• A:  Shall I take the baby to the garden or to the cinema?
• B:  I would rather you took him to the garden.
• A:  What shall I buy for you, a pen or pencil?
• B:  I would rather you bought a pen for me.
• A:  Shall I inform him the message now?
• B:  No, I would rather you didn’t inform him the message now.

Rather = to some degree or quite, precisely, more truly, accurately.  It indicates an undesirable idea or connotation and viewed with disapproval.

EXAMPLES

• It’s rather a pity to imitate a drunkard.
• The burglary took place rather in the heart of the city.
• It’s rather hot today.
• She is rather fat.
• The task will take a good two years for accomplishment rather than months.

Note :  It gives stronger effect to the idea when followed by comparatives( stronger,  cheaper etc or by ‘too’.)  Mostly  this usage conveys undesirable ideas.  However , very rarely, it can be used in certain situations to convey desirable ideas also.  The following examples will clarify the usage.

• The shirt is rather too big for me.
• I am feeling rather better today.( desirable)
• He read the poem rather too quickly.
• The price was rather more than we could afford.
• The condition of the patient was rather better yesterday.(desirable)

A few more situations where ‘rather’ can be conveniently used.

(rather more expensive, rather stronger, rather too expensive,  rather too silly, rather too idiotic, rather surprising, rather tall, rather dark, rather strange, rather funny etc)

‘Would rather’ suggests what the speaker prefers. ‘Would rather’ is somewhat similar to ‘Would prefer’.  After ‘Would rather’ we use headless infinitive (i.e bare root verb without’to’.  But after ‘Would prefer’ the root verb is preceded by ‘to’.  To explain further ( would rather do something than do something else)

EXAMPLES

• A:  What would you rather have , tea or coffee?
• B:  I would rather have coffee.
• A:  What would you suggest we should do, go for the film or see the football match.
• B:  We would rather go for the film.
• I would rather sit on the mat.  I don’t want that chair.
• I would rather have two half-boiled eggs and a cup of milk for breakfast.
• I would rather go swimming in the evening.
• What would rather do in your leisure time? Swimming or fishing?
• I would rather go fishing in my leisure time.

Would rather = would prefer (COMPARED)

• I would rather go to the office than sit idle at home. (would rather GO)
• I would prefer to go to the office rather than sit idle at home.(would prefer TO GO).
• I would rather go by train.( simply Go)
• I would prefer to go by train.( To Go).
• He would rather have the small toy than the big one.

Note:- The negative is ‘Would rather not’ do something.

• A: Would you come with us for a movie?
• B: Thank you, but I would rather not.
• It’s raining outside.  I would rather not go out.

*

PREFER and WOULD RATHER : -Both these two usages have more or less similar expressions.  When we want to express the position of our interest in a comparative fashion or style, these usages become handy.  For example , suppose, we have more interest in something or in doing something than another alternative, these expressions can be conveniently used.

Prefer = like better

We can use ‘ Prefer to do’ and ‘Prefer doing’ to say what we prefer in general.  Now study the structural alternatives that can be used to express the essence of these usages.

(1)  Prefer something to something else.

(2)  Prefer doing something to doing something else

But prefer to do something rather than do something else.

Note:- A learner should give more emphasis on examples rather than grammatical rules.  Once you study a number of examples of a particular pattern in succession, you will begin to be thorough with the rules behind the usage.  When you are confident yourself with the usage , you go for further academic or grammatical interpretation of the rules.

EXAMPLES.

• I prefer tea to coffee.
• He prefers walking to cycling.
• He prefers to walk rather than go by car.
• I prefer to live in the country.
• I prefer living in the country.  I don’t like cities
• She prefers to do something useful rather than sit idle.
• She prefers cooking to stitching.
• They prefer to drink milk rather than eat mangoes.

The important thing to note in this case is that we make a comparison here as to which option we like better.  Here the extent of application is restricted to the particular context/situation rather than a general preference. That is to say , simply ‘Prefer’ applies to a general preference whereas ‘ Would prefer’ to a specific/particular preference or situation.

EXAMPLES

• A:  Which would you prefer, tea or coffee?
• B: I would prefer coffee, please.(  Sometimes one would prefer tea generally, but for this particular occasion his/her preference is coffee.)
• Note : We say ‘Would prefer to do’ ( but NOT ‘doing’).
• A:  How will you go home?
• B: I would prefer to go by car.
• I would prefer to stay at home tonight rather than go to the cinema.
• They would prefer to come with us rather than watch the movie.
• A: There are books and albums for sale.  What would you prefer to buy?
• B: I would prefer to buy an album.

When we say something very usual, there is nothing surprising in it.  On the other hand, when something is being explained as unusual  an element of curiosity is aroused and someone is given to understand what is being said/ or expressed bears the meaning or connotation of being against the practice.  The following examples will further clarify the essence of the usage.

• He is very happy.  He is satisfied with his achievements.( This is a statement that shows a general state of affairs.  People are not surprised why he is happy)

COMPARE

• He is being very happy.( i.e usually he is unhappy and one is surprised to see him happy)
• I don’t know why she is being very angry with me.(i.e usually she is not angry with me)
• She’s being very nice to her sister at the moment, I wonder why.( i.e it indicates that she is not usually very nice to her sister)
• Usually Davis is a very sensible person.  I wonder why he is being so insensible to accept the proposal)
• I wonder why the manager is being so late today.(Usually he goes to the office in time)

When we want to emphasise a point or fact, the application of the above usage will be very useful.  They are usually used in this way when a statement is contradicted.  For example, when someone argues with you and says that you didn’t do something, you can defend your side by the way as explained below.

• A : You didn’t deliver the message to him I gave you, did you?
• B: No, I did deliver the message to him.

Differentiating examples are given below for more clarity.

• She loves flowers.
• She does love flowers.( emphasised)
• She loved flowers
• She did love flowers.(emphasised)
• He has a collection of antiques.
• He does have a collection of antiques.(emphasised)
• A: The manager tells me you did not do the work.
• B: I did do the work.  I’m afraid he has not seen it.
• A: He did not go to the office.
• B: No, I saw him in the office.  He did come to the office.
• A: They do not like my children.
• B: No, they do like your children.  They have given a packet of toffee for your children.

‘Had’ is the past tense of ‘have’  ; but in the usage ‘ HAD BETTER’ , it has a present idea or meaning.  ‘Had better’ indicates an action which is preferable and in case of failure of action, it may bring about unpleasant consequences.  In other words  it suggests a course of action that seems advisable.

• He’s in a critical condition.  You had better visit him today itself.( i.e otherwise,sometimes, you may not be able to see him.)
• He’s a dishonest man.  You had better keep an arm’s distance with him.
• It seems there will be heavy rain in the evening.  You had better take an umbrella with you.
• You had better study well.  Otherwise you cannot catch up with other students.
• A: Had we better leave now?
• B: Yes, we had better leave now.
• A: Are you going out this evening?
• B: I had better not .  I am expecting a guest.
• They had better surrender to the police before being caught.
• You don’t look very well.  You had better not do heavy work.

HAD BETTER and SHOULD compared.

‘Had Better’ is similar to ‘Should’ but not exactly the same.  We use ‘Had better’ meant for only a particular situation ( not for things in general).  But should is used in all types of situations to give our opinion or to give advice.  Also, with ‘Had better’ there is always a danger or a problem if you don’t follow the advice.  ‘Should’ only means  ‘ it is a good thing to do’.

Compare:

• It’s a great film.  You should go and see it. (but no danger, no problem if you don’t).

BUT :  * The train starts at 8.30.  It’s already 8.20.  You had better go now or you will miss the train. (here  if you don’t follow the advice, you have a risk of missing the train)