http://www.englishforums.com/search/pro.htm?q=tag%3aSimple+past+tag%3awould+rather&tag=Simple+past,would+rather&orTags=0Search results for 'tag:Simple past tag:would rather' matching tags 'Simple past' and 'would rather'en-USCSMOD (Build: 3191.21962)http://www.englishforums.com/English/SubjunctiveAfterWouldRather/gbgdn/post.htmWed, 30 Apr 2008 19:49:51 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:507837MarvinTheMartian<p>I seem to have noticed that, when the object is not a person, &quot;would rather&quot; is often followed by the subjunctive mood instead of the simple past or the pluperfect. For instance, we say &quot;I&#39;d rather you joined me&quot;, but I rarely see: &quot;I&#39;d rather the meeting was canceled&quot;. Am I right in thinking that it would be&nbsp;better in this case to say: &quot;I&#39;d rather the meeting be canceled&quot;. How about the following sentences?</p> <p>- &quot;I&#39;d rather the appointment be rescheduled.&quot;</p> <p>- &quot;I&#39;d rather the meeting take place (or would take place) tomorrow&quot;</p> <p>- &quot;If there&#39;s going to be a crisis, I&#39;d rather it happen now than later.&quot;</p> <p>Supposing that I&#39;m right, what happens in the negative form? Should one say: &quot;I&#39;d rather the meeting didn&#39;t take place&quot; or &quot;I&#39;d rather the meeting not take place (or wouldn&#39;t take place)&quot;?</p>