Anonymous Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
"would rather NOT" or "would NOT rather"
In a certain grammar book, I read that "would rather NOT" is used to negate "would rather", not "would NOT rather".
However, there are many examples using "would not rather".
I feel, maybe in the following example, "would rather not" and "would not rather" mean different things.
(1) I wouldn't rather be alive than dead.
(2) I would rather not be alive than dead.
#1:
I am not saying "I'd rather be alive than dead".
It is not a fact that I'd rather be alive than dead.
#2: This looks odd to me, because it is nonsense to compare "be dead" with "not be alive". They are the same in fact. So, #2 can't mean anything.
Similarly:
(3) Who wouldn't rather be alive than dead?
(4) Who would rather not be alive than dead?
#3: natural.
Anybody prefers being alive to being dead.
Nobody wants to be dead instead of being alive.
#4: unnatural.(?)
What do you think?
However, there are many examples using "would not rather".
I feel, maybe in the following example, "would rather not" and "would not rather" mean different things.
(1) I wouldn't rather be alive than dead.
(2) I would rather not be alive than dead.
#1:
I am not saying "I'd rather be alive than dead".
It is not a fact that I'd rather be alive than dead.
#2: This looks odd to me, because it is nonsense to compare "be dead" with "not be alive". They are the same in fact. So, #2 can't mean anything.
Similarly:
(3) Who wouldn't rather be alive than dead?
(4) Who would rather not be alive than dead?
#3: natural.
Anybody prefers being alive to being dead.
Nobody wants to be dead instead of being alive.
#4: unnatural.(?)
What do you think?
Top answer
Anonymous However, there are many examples using "would not rather". This is true. Anonymous (1) I wouldn't rather be alive than dead.
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AnonymousHowever, there are many examples using "would not rather".This is true.
Anonymous(1) I wouldn't rather be alive than dead.Amounting to "I'd rather be dead than alive."
But this sort of thing usually follows a pseudo-philosophical discussion, and no one would simply use it as a substitute for "I'd rather be dea
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