The Grammaring Guide to English Grammar with Exercises

WOULD RATHER / WOULD SOONER

Would rather/sooner has a meaning similar to would prefer and can be followed by a bare infinitive or by a clause with the past subjunctive or the past perfect subjunctive. There is no difference in meaning between would rather and would sooner, but would rather is more common.

WOULD RATHER / WOULD SOONER + bare infinitive

WOULD RATHER / WOULD SOONER + clause