F2F Class Notes (Tanya)

Demo StudentJay

Vocabulary

slang – popular words

e.g. 囧 is Chinese slang. It’s a “made up” word, popular with young people. It’s not really formal English.

I am willing to help you.

I am willing to go home after dinner.

I would rather (comparing)

Grammar

There are a lot of chairs over there

There is a big difference between Thais and Chinese people. They don’t want a fast-paced life. They rather choose a slow pace to be easily satisfied everyday. Compared to Thais , we have already forgotten what the real meaning of life is. This is so awful and for us it can be life-shortening.

They choose a slow-paced life to be easily satisfied everyday, rather than a fast-paced life.

Rather is used to talk about preferences.

  • Don’t come today. I would rather you came tomorrow. (= I would prefer you to come tomorrow.)

After would rather we usually use a past tense with present or future meaning.

  • ‘Would you like something to drink?’ ‘I would rather have something to eat.’ (= I would prefer to have something to eat.)

Rather can mean ‘more precisely’.

  • He arrived late last night, or rather, in the early hours this morning.
  • He ran, or rather staggered, to the finishing line.

Rather than

This expression is mostly used in parallel structures. That means we use it with two adjectives, adverbs, nouns, infinitives or –ing forms.

  • We ought to invest in education rather than defense. (preference is the first)

When the main clause has a to-infinitive, rather than is usually followed by an infinitive without to. An –ing form is also possible.

  • I decided to wait rather than leave. OR I decided to wait rather than leaving.
  • He must learn to shoulder responsibility rather than leave everything to fate. (OR … rather than leaving everything to fate.)

Homework

Make these “rather” exercises:

!!!

https://www.tolearnenglish.com/exercises/exercise-english-2/exercise-english-49279.php

https://www.tolearnenglish.com/exercises/exercise-english-2/exercise-english-43957.php

(if you have time)

Intermediate grammar exercise: would rather, would prefer, prefer

http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=7790

http://www.learnenglish-online.com/grammar/tests/ratherprefer2.html