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Had better, would rather et prefer : conseiller et dire ses préférences

Fiche à imprimer : le cours, les trois exercices et le corrigé (sur une page à part). Revenir au cours en ligne

Had better : « tu ferais mieux de » (conseil fort, avertissement)

had better ('d better) + base verbale, sans to. Négation : had better not.

It's cold. You'd better take a coat.
Il fait froid. Tu ferais mieux de prendre un manteau.
You'd better not be late!
Tu as intérêt à ne pas être en retard !

Would rather : « je préférerais » (préférence)

would rather ('d rather) + base verbale. Négation : would rather not. Comparaison avec than.

I'd rather stay at home tonight. I'd rather walk than take the bus.
Je préférerais rester à la maison ce soir. Je préfère marcher plutôt que prendre le bus.

Prefer : « préférer » (goût général)

ConstructionExempleTraduction
prefer + nom + to + nomI prefer tea to coffee.Je préfère le thé au café.
prefer + -ingShe prefers swimming.Elle préfère nager.
would prefer + to + verbeI'd prefer to go by train.Je préférerais y aller en train.

Attention : avec prefer, on compare avec to (et non than) ; avec would rather, avec than.

Mise en situation : une soirée

Lily : Do you want to go to the cinema tonight?
Tu veux aller au cinéma ce soir ?
Adam : I'd rather stay at home. I'm tired, and I prefer films on TV to films at the cinema.
Je préférerais rester à la maison. Je suis fatigué, et je préfère les films à la télé à ceux du cinéma.
Lily : OK, but you'd better not fall asleep on the sofa again!
D'accord, mais tu as intérêt à ne pas t'endormir encore sur le canapé !

À retenir

  • had better (+ not) + base verbale : conseil, avertissement.
  • would rather (+ not) + base verbale ; ... rather A than B.
  • prefer A to B ; prefer + -ing ; would prefer to + verbe.
  • Contractions : you'd better, I'd rather.

Exercice 1 : Had better et would rather : exercice 1 (QCM)

  1. It's cold. You ___ take a coat.
    1. had better
    2. prefer
    3. would rather
  2. I ___ stay at home tonight.
    1. prefer
    2. would rather
    3. had rather
  3. You'd better ___ late again!
    1. don't be
    2. not be
    3. not to be
  4. I prefer tea ___ coffee.
    1. that
    2. to
    3. than
  5. I'd rather walk ___ take the bus.
    1. than
    2. to
    3. that
  6. She'd rather ___ the film at home.
    1. to watch
    2. watch
    3. watching
  7. We'd better ___ now, or we'll miss the train.
    1. leaving
    2. to leave
    3. leave
  8. Do you prefer ___ or swimming?
    1. running
    2. run
    3. to running
  9. I'd prefer ___ by train.
    1. to travel
    2. travelling to
    3. travel
  10. « Tu ferais mieux de te dépêcher. »
    1. You'd better hurry.
    2. You'd better to hurry.
    3. You'd rather hurry.

Exercice 2 : Had better et would rather : exercice 2 (à compléter)

  1. You'd .......................... see a doctor. (feriez mieux)
  2. I'd .......................... have pizza than pasta. (préférerais)
  3. You'd better .......................... touch that: it's hot!
  4. I prefer cats .......................... dogs.
  5. She'd rather read .......................... watch TV.
  6. We'd better .......................... now. (go)
  7. I'd rather .......................... , thanks. (not / come)
  8. My brother prefers .......................... video games. (play)
  9. I would prefer .......................... here. (stay)
  10. It's late. We'd better .......................... home. (go)

Exercice 3 : Had better et would rather : mise en situation

  1. Il pleut et ton ami part sans parapluie.
    1. You'd better take an umbrella.
    2. You'd better to take an umbrella.
    3. You'd rather take an umbrella.
  2. On te propose le cinéma, mais tu préfères rester à la maison.
    1. I prefer stay at home.
    2. I'd rather stay at home.
    3. I'd better stay at home of.
  3. Ta sœur hésite entre thé et café. Toi, tu préfères le thé.
    1. I prefer tea to coffee.
    2. I'd rather tea that coffee.
    3. I prefer tea than coffee.
  4. Ton ami a de la fièvre.
    1. You had better to see a doctor.
    2. You'd rather see a doctor.
    3. You'd better see a doctor.
  5. Tu ne veux pas parler de ta mauvaise note.
    1. I'd rather don't talk about it.
    2. I'd rather not talk about it.
    3. I'd not rather talk about it.
  6. Vous allez rater le bus !
    1. We'd better hurrying!
    2. We'd rather hurry!
    3. We'd better hurry!
  7. On te demande si tu préfères le train ou l'avion. Le train.
    1. I'd prefer to go by train.
    2. I'd prefer go by train.
    3. I'd prefer going to train.
  8. Ton petit frère veut toucher le four chaud.
    1. You'd better not touch it!
    2. You'd not better touch it!
    3. You'd better don't touch it!
  9. Tu préfères lire plutôt que regarder la télé.
    1. I'd rather read than watch TV.
    2. I'd rather read to watch TV.
    3. I'd rather to read than watch TV.
  10. Tu demandes poliment à ton invité ce qu'il préfère : jus ou eau ?
    1. Would you rather juice or water?
    2. Do you better juice or water?
    3. Would you prefer juice or water?

Corrigé

Exercice 1

1. a) had better · 2. b) would rather · 3. b) not be · 4. b) to · 5. a) than · 6. b) watch · 7. c) leave · 8. a) running · 9. a) to travel · 10. a) You'd better hurry.

Exercice 2

1. better · 2. rather · 3. not · 4. to · 5. than · 6. go · 7. not come · 8. playing · 9. to stay · 10. go

Exercice 3

1. a) You'd better take an umbrella. · 2. b) I'd rather stay at home. · 3. a) I prefer tea to coffee. · 4. c) You'd better see a doctor. · 5. b) I'd rather not talk about it. · 6. c) We'd better hurry! · 7. a) I'd prefer to go by train. · 8. a) You'd better not touch it! · 9. a) I'd rather read than watch TV. · 10. c) Would you prefer juice or water?