Nuanced Modality
Build your vocabulary with practical examples
would rather (preference)
I'd rather you didn't
/aɪd ˈræðər juː ˈdɪdənt/
I'd rather you didn't smoke in here.
I'd rather not
/aɪd ˈræðər nɒt/
Are you coming? — I'd rather not, thanks.
I'd rather she came
/aɪd ˈræðər ʃiː keɪm/
I'd rather she came on Friday than Monday.
I'd rather have stayed
/aɪd ˈræðər həv steɪd/
I'd rather have stayed at home last night.
I'd sooner / I'd just as soon
I'd sooner
/aɪd ˈsuːnər/
I'd sooner walk than take the bus.
I'd just as soon
/aɪd dʒəst əz suːn/
I'd just as soon eat at home tonight.
had better
/hæd ˈbetər/
You'd better leave now if you want to make the train.
Subtle Obligation / Necessity
ought to have
/ɔːt tə həv/
You ought to have told me sooner.
needn't have
/ˈniːdənt həv/
You needn't have brought a gift — but thanks.
should have known
/ʃʊd həv noʊn/
I should have known better than to trust him.
Hypothetical Shading
would have thought
/wʊd həv θɔːt/
I would have thought you'd be happy with the result.
might just as well
/maɪt dʒəst əz wel/
We might just as well go home — nothing's happening here.
could possibly
/kʊd ˈpɒsəbli/
Could you possibly lend me twenty pounds?