Learn English – Can “would rather” be followed with a past perfect

grammarpast-perfectperfect-aspect

Can "would rather" be followed with a past perfect? Can it be used to express a regret, a wish the past had been different?

Example taken from First Certificate Language Practice by Michael Vince, page 43:

I would rather you did not tell John about this.

Neither now, nor later, that is.

How about earlier? "I would rather you had not told John about this."?

Best Answer

Would rather means

(would rather) Used to indicate one’s preference in a particular matter: would you like some wine, or would you rather stick to sherry? [Oxford Dictionaries Online]

It describes a current preference for something in general or in particular that has not yet happened. As such an object in the form of a clause would not use a past (or past perfect) tense verb form.

If you wish to express your preference for things that have already occurred, the main clause should be put in the past, and rather does not quite work

I would have preferred you had not told John about this.

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