What is the difference between I'd rather you stayed here. and I'd rather you be there when the girls ride.
(In the cambridge book they say that we use past simple after I'd rather someone Did something) but I found the "be" in a book. Can anyone explain ? ?Feel free to just provide example sentences.

Answers

PBKing

27 Nov 2022

English (US)

Yup. Some astute grammarian may correct me but I think the problem is that Americans tend to use the subjective “be” or past subjunctive “were” rather than the simple past “was” preferred by the Brits. I think you can get away with using the simple past “was” even though it sounds a bit odd to the American ear. I’d personally stick with “were”. “Be” is a little fancy for my taste but it’s ok. Hope this helps.

Highly-rated answerer

Suzy9

27 Nov 2022

French (France)

actually, my question was more on is it correct to say, "I'd rather you stayed home" or "I'd rather you stay home" and is there a difference in meanings? I should have put it that way in the very first place. Apologies

PBKing

28 Nov 2022

English (US)

For all practical purposes, there is no difference. I would use the first (subjunctive).

Highly-rated answerer

Suzy9

17 Dec 2022

French (France)

yes indeed. thanks

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What is the difference between I'd rather you stayed here. and I'd rather you be there when the girls ride.
(In the cambridge book they say that we use past simple after I'd rather someone Did something) but I found the "be" in a book. Can anyone explain ? ?