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iloveyou
Joined: 05 Aug 2006
Posts: 72
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 Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 6:58 am Post subject: might rather |
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Hello,
I am used to the expression " Would rather A than B"
Can I use might replacing would?
For example, "I might rather die than surrender"
If I can, does it carry the same meaning?
Thanks
Yun |
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dragn
Joined: 17 Feb 2009
Posts: 450
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| Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 8:29 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
I am used to the expression " Would rather A than B"
Can I use might replacing would?
For example, "I might rather die than surrender"
If I can, does it carry the same meaning? |
No, you cannot simply replace would rather with might rather. They mean two different things.
Let me be clear: you can say might rather, but not as a direct replacement for would rather.
For example:
John would rather have a beer.
I'm telling you—John doesn't want a Coke; he wants a beer. I know this for a fact.
John might rather have a beer.
I'm not sure, but I think that it's possible that he might prefer a beer. But I don't know this for a fact.
I would rather die than surrender.
Spoken like a true hero.
I might rather die than surrender.
Gosh, I just don't know. I don't want to die, but being a prisoner doesn't sound like a barrel of laughs, either. Hmm...
Hope this makes sense.
Greg |
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