logo
logoGrammar Error
Test Your EnglishLearnChallengesArticlesAbout
logoGrammar Error

Basics. Verb Patterns with I'd Rather and It's Time: correct answers

StartTo ChallengesDownload PDF
Jump to answers ↓

Verb Patterns with I'd Rather and It's Time

English has specific, and sometimes surprising, rules for verbs that follow phrases like I'd rather and it's time. When you express a preference about your own actions, you use the base verb ("I'd rather go home"). However, when you want someone else to do something, you use the past tense to express a desired present or future situation ("I'd rather you didn't cook fish" or "It's high time you bought a new phone").

Inside this challenge, you will help frustrated roommates, nervous ghost hunters, and strict wizards navigate these tricky structures. You'll practice choosing between the base verb and the past tense after I'd rather, as well as knowing when to use the infinitive ("It's time to leave") versus a subject and past tense verb ("It's time we left") with it's time, it's high time, and it's about time.

You'll work through 10 questions in a mix of single-choice, multi-choice, drop-down, and drag-and-drop formats to master these conversational patterns.

Try the quiz to check your knowledge!

MediumB1 | IntermediateB1InfinitiveModal verbNegationPast tensePhraseSubjunctive moodVerbVerb moodVerb tenseSimple tense

Correct answers

Question 1

Choose the correct verb form to complete the partygoer's dramatic complaint.

"This party is incredibly boring. I'd rather _____ home and watch paint dry than stay here another minute."

The correct answer is go.

When the subject of "I'd rather" is doing the action themselves (the subject doesn't change), we use the bare infinitive (the base form of the verb without "to"). Since "I" am the one leaving, we use "go", not "went" or "to go".

Question 2

Complete the procrastinating student's midnight realization by choosing the correct verb form for each gap.

Look at the clock! It's time to start writing this history essay.

Honestly, it's high time I took my assignments more seriously instead of watching penguin documentaries.

Look at the clock! It's time to start writing this history essay.

When "it's time" is followed immediately by a verb, we use the infinitive with "to" (It's time to do something).

Honestly, it's high time I took my assignments more seriously instead of watching penguin documentaries.

When "it's time" or "it's high time" is followed by a subject (in this case, "I"), we use the past tense to express that something should be done now or should have already been done.

Question 3

Help the nervous ghost hunter urge their friends to leave the haunted mansion. Select ALL the grammatically correct sentences.

The correct answers are It's time we left this spooky house! and It's time to leave this spooky house!

When expressing that an action should happen right now, you can use "It's time" followed by a to-infinitive (It's time to leave).

Alternatively, you can use a subject followed by the unreal past / past subjunctive (It's time we left). This emphasizes that the action is perhaps a little overdue!

We never use object pronouns (us) before the past tense verb, nor do we combine a subject pronoun (we) with a to-infinitive in this structure.

Question 4

Help the stressed roommate set some ground rules by choosing the best phrase for each gap.
"I'd rather you _________________________ a wild raccoon into our apartment," sighed Mark, looking at the trash-covered kitchen floor. "I'd rather _________________________ a normal pet, like a dog or a slightly aggressive goldfish."

The correct answers are didn't bring and get.

When we use "I'd rather" to say what we want someone else to do, we use the past tense (subjunctive) to talk about the present or future: "I'd rather you didn't bring..."

When we talk about our own preference (the subject stays the same), we use the base form of the verb: "I'd rather get..."

Question 5

Complete the tech-savvy friend's dramatic advice by selecting the correct verb.

"Your phone still has physical buttons and a pull-out antenna! It's high time you _____ a smartphone from this decade."

The correct answer is bought.

The phrases "It's time", "It's high time", and "It's about time" are followed by a subject and a past tense verb to say that something should have been done already. "Bought" is used here to emphasize that the phone upgrade is long overdue!

Question 6

Complete the headmaster's exasperated lecture to the lazy wizard by selecting the correct option for each blank.
"It's about time you _________________________ taking your potion classes seriously!" yelled Professor Fizzle, wiping green slime off his robes. "It's time _________________________ up and realize that magic doesn't just happen by itself!"

The correct answers are started and to wake.

We use "It's (about/high) time" + past tense to complain that someone should have done something already: "It's about time you started..."

However, if we don't specify a subject (like "you" or "he") after "It's time", we simply use the infinitive with "to": "It's time to wake up..."

Question 7

Help the frustrated roommate express their preference about the mountain of dirty plates in the sink. Select ALL the grammatically correct options.

The correct answers are I'd rather you washed the dishes tonight. and I'd rather wash the dishes myself than wait for you.

"I'd rather" (I would rather) changes its grammar depending on who is doing the action:

  1. When talking about a preference for someone else's actions, use I'd rather + subject + past simple (I'd rather you washed). This uses the subjunctive mood to talk about a hypothetical present/future desire.
  1. When talking about your own preference, use I'd rather + base verb (I'd rather wash).

"I'd rather" is never followed by an infinitive with "to" or a gerund ("-ing" word).

Question 8

Help the frustrated roommate express their preference politely but firmly by choosing the correct verb phrase.

"I know you love your seafood, but I'd rather you _____ fish in our shared microwave."

The correct answer is didn't cook.

When we use "I'd rather" to express a preference about someone else's actions in the present or future, we use the past tense (the "unreal" past or subjunctive mood). Even though the roommate is talking about a present habit, "didn't cook" is the grammatically correct choice!

Question 9

Help the exhausted roommate express their preferences by choosing the correct verb form for each blank.

I'm way too tired to cook a full meal. I'd rather order pizza tonight.

However, I'd rather you cleaned the kitchen from yesterday before the mold forms its own civilization.

I'm way too tired to cook a full meal. I'd rather order pizza tonight.

When the subject of "would rather" is the same as the subject of the main verb (I would rather I order...), we use the base form of the verb without "to".

However, I'd rather you cleaned the kitchen from yesterday before the mold forms its own civilization.

When the subject changes after "would rather" (I would rather you do something), we use the past tense form to talk about a present or future preference. This is a type of subjunctive mood!

Question 10

The boss is having a polite but firm chat with an employee who is notoriously late. Select ALL the sentences that use correct grammar for this situation.

The correct answers are It's high time you bought an alarm clock! and I'd rather you didn't arrive late every single day.

Both "It's high time" and "I'd rather" (when referring to another person) require a subject and a verb in the past simple to talk about present or future situations.

  • It's high time you bought: The unreal past emphasizes that buying an alarm clock is long overdue.
  • I'd rather you didn't arrive: The unreal past expresses a strong preference about the employee's current behavior.
Terms of ServicePrivacy Policy
Copyright Kind Robots Ltd.