寧願、該是時候了(would rather / it's time)

🎯 這一課你會學會

表達偏好和委婉的催促——「我寧願待在家」「你該去睡了」。用 would rather 和 it's time + 過去式。這些跟 wish 一樣,用「過去的形式」講「現在的意思」,是很道地的 B2 語感。

💬 先聽一段對話

Amy: Do you want to go out tonight?（今晚想出去嗎?) Ken: Honestly, I'd rather stay in. I'm tired.（老實說,我寧願待在家。我累了。) Amy: That's fine. But it's time you took a real break, you know.（沒關係。不過你也該好好休息一下了。) Ken: You're right. I'd rather you didn't worry about me, though!（你說得對。不過我寧願你別擔心我!)

🔑 兩組結構

• would rather + 原形 = (我)寧願做…:I**'d rather** stay home.
• would rather + 主詞 + 過去式 = 寧願(別人)做…:I**'d rather** you didn't smoke.
• it's time + 主詞 + 過去式 = 該是…的時候了(現在該做):It's time we left.

🧩 文法點:用「過去形式」講「現在/未來」

① would rather(=would prefer to)講偏好:

• 自己要做什麼 → would rather + 原形:I'd rather walk than drive.
• 「寧願 A 不要 B」→ would rather A than B:I'd rather read than watch TV.
• 希望別人怎麼做 → would rather + 主詞 + 過去式(形式過去、意思現在/未來):
  • I'd rather you came tomorrow.（我寧願你明天來)
  • I'd rather he didn't know.（我寧願他別知道)

② it's time + 主詞 + 過去式 = 「早該…了」(帶點該做而未做的語氣):

• It's time you went to bed.（你該去睡了——現在還沒去)
• It's (high / about) time we made a decision.（我們早該做決定了)
• 注意:形式是過去式,但講的是現在該做。
• (也可說 It's time to go——用 to + 原形,語氣中性;It's time you went——針對某人,帶催促。)

③ 為什麼用過去式? 跟 wish、第二條件一樣——英語用「往後退的時態」表達「與現在不符/希望改變」的語氣。這是一種「假設/委婉」的語法習慣,先接受它、用熟就好。

📒 高頻單字

單字	KK 音標	中譯	例句
rather	/ˈræðɚ/	寧願	I'd rather not.（我寧願不要。)
prefer	/prɪˈfɝ/	較喜歡	I prefer tea to coffee.
honestly	/ˈɑnɪstli/	老實說	Honestly, I'm tired.
break	/brek/	休息	take a break
decision	/dɪˈsɪʒən/	決定	make a decision

🗣️ 發音提醒

• I'd rather → 「aɪd-Ræ-ðɚ」;rather 美式 /ˈræðɚ/、英式 /ˈrɑːðə/。
• would rather 口語常直接「I'd rather」,'d 輕帶。
• honestly /ˈɑnɪstli/:h 不發音,「ON-ist-lee」。

✍️ 開口練習

練習 1:would rather + 什麼形式?

• I'd rather ＿ (stay) home.（自己)→ stay
• I'd rather you ＿ (not/tell) her.（別人)→ didn't tell

練習 2:it's time + 過去式。

It's time I ＿(過去式). / It's time we ＿(過去式).

練習 3:講你的偏好(would rather A than B)。

I'd rather ＿ than ＿.

🎒 帶走

• would rather + 原形(自己寧願)、would rather + 主詞 + 過去式(寧願別人…)。
• it's time + 主詞 + 過去式 = 早該…了(形式過去、意思現在該做)。
• 跟 wish/第二條件一樣:用過去形式表達委婉/假設語氣。

🎉 你完成 B2 Unit 2「條件的進階」了! 混合條件、if 的替代與倒裝、would rather——你的假設與偏好表達細膩多了。下一個 Unit,兩個讓表達更成熟的工具:使役(叫人做事)和進階被動。