📘 Lesson 69 – Special Uses: Would Rather, Would Prefer, Let Alone

🎯 Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. Use “would rather” to express preference.

2. Use “would prefer” in direct and indirect speech.

3. Use “let alone” to emphasize impossibility or difficulty.

4. Convert sentences with these expressions from direct → indirect and vice versa.

5. Practice using these expressions in speaking, writing, and exercises.

📖 Introduction (5–7 minutes)

• These special expressions are commonly tested in HSC English Paper II.

• Would rather expresses preference between two options.

  • Example: “I would rather stay home,” said Ali. → Ali said that he would rather stay home.

• Would prefer is similar but more formal:

  • Example: “I would prefer tea,” said Rina. → Rina said that she would prefer tea.

• Let alone emphasizes that something is even more impossible than another action:

  • Example: “I can’t cook rice, let alone biryani,” said Tanvir. → Tanvir said that he couldn’t cook rice, let alone biryani.

🔎 Board Work – Rules & Usage (10–12 minutes)

1. Would Rather

• Structure: Subject + would rather + base verb (+ than + base verb)

• Use in indirect speech: would rather → would rather (no tense change)

Examples:

1. Direct: “I would rather watch a movie,” said Shakil.
   Indirect: Shakil said that he would rather watch a movie.

2. Direct: “She would rather read a book than watch TV,” said Farhana.
   Indirect: Farhana said that she would rather read a book than watch TV.

3. Direct: “I would rather stay home tonight,” said Rafiq.
   Indirect: Rafiq said that he would rather stay home that night.

2. Would Prefer

• Structure: Subject + would prefer + noun/verb (+ to + noun/verb)

• Use in indirect speech: maintain would prefer

Examples:

1. Direct: “I would prefer tea,” said Mina.
   Indirect: Mina said that she would prefer tea.

2. Direct: “He would prefer to go to the park than stay at home,” said Karim.
   Indirect: Karim said that he would prefer to go to the park than stay at home.

3. Direct: “We would prefer to travel by train,” said the students.
   Indirect: The students said that they would prefer to travel by train.

3. Let Alone

• Emphasizes impossibility or difficulty.

• In indirect speech: let alone → let alone (structure remains same)

Examples:

1. Direct: “I can’t solve this problem, let alone the advanced ones,” said Tanvir.
   Indirect: Tanvir said that he couldn’t solve this problem, let alone the advanced ones.

2. Direct: “I can’t lift this box, let alone the heavier one,” said Rahim.
   Indirect: Rahim said that he couldn’t lift this box, let alone the heavier one.

3. Direct: “I can’t cook rice, let alone biryani,” said Rina.
   Indirect: Rina said that she couldn’t cook rice, let alone biryani.

📝 Extended Examples (20+ sentences)

Would Rather

1. “I would rather play football than cricket,” said Shakib. → Shakib said that he would rather play football than cricket.

2. “She would rather read novels,” said Farhana. → Farhana said that she would rather read novels.

3. “I would rather stay home today,” said Rafiq. → Rafiq said that he would rather stay home that day.

4. “We would rather travel by bus than train,” said the children. → The children said that they would rather travel by bus than train.

Would Prefer

5. “I would prefer coffee,” said Tanvir. → Tanvir said that he would prefer coffee.

6. “She would prefer to eat at home than at a restaurant,” said Jannat. → Jannat said that she would prefer to eat at home than at a restaurant.

7. “I would prefer to study in the library,” said Karim. → Karim said that he would prefer to study in the library.

8. “We would prefer to watch a documentary,” said the students. → The students said that they would prefer to watch a documentary.

Let Alone

9. “I can’t lift this table, let alone the cupboard,” said Rahim. → Rahim said that he couldn’t lift this table, let alone the cupboard.

10. “I can’t understand this poem, let alone Shakespeare,” said Mina. → Mina said that she couldn’t understand this poem, let alone Shakespeare.

11. “I can’t solve the first question, let alone the last one,” said Rafiq. → Rafiq said that he couldn’t solve the first question, let alone the last one.

12. “I can’t ride a bicycle, let alone a motorcycle,” said Tanvir. → Tanvir said that he couldn’t ride a bicycle, let alone a motorcycle.

Mixed Practice

13. Direct: “I would rather eat at home than outside,” said Shakil. → Indirect: Shakil said that he would rather eat at home than outside.

14. Direct: “I would prefer to write by hand than type,” said Farhana. → Indirect: Farhana said that she would prefer to write by hand than type.

15. Direct: “I can’t fix this fan, let alone the fridge,” said Rina. → Indirect: Rina said that she couldn’t fix this fan, let alone the fridge.

16. Direct: “We would rather play in the evening,” said the children. → Indirect: The children said that they would rather play in the evening.

17. Direct: “I would prefer tea to coffee,” said Ali. → Indirect: Ali said that he would prefer tea to coffee.

18. Direct: “I can’t swim, let alone dive,” said Tanvir. → Indirect: Tanvir said that he couldn’t swim, let alone dive.

19. Direct: “She would rather walk than take the bus,” said Shakib. → Indirect: Shakib said that she would rather walk than take the bus.

20. Direct: “I would prefer to go to bed early,” said Rafiq. → Indirect: Rafiq said that he would prefer to go to bed early.

📝 Class Activity (15–20 minutes)

1. Convert 5 sentences for each expression (would rather, would prefer, let alone) from direct → indirect.

2. Pair activity: One student says a direct sentence, partner converts to indirect.

3. Group discussion: Identify mistakes and correct them.

Extra Practice Sentences:

• “I would rather read a book than watch TV,” said Mina.

• “I would prefer to eat at home than outside,” said Karim.

• “I can’t lift this chair, let alone the table,” said Rahim.

🗣 Speaking Practice (5–10 minutes)

• Students report classmates’ sentences in indirect speech using all three expressions.

• Encourage correct pronoun, tense, and time adjustments.

• Example:

  • Direct: “I would rather stay home today.”

  • Indirect: He said that he would rather stay home that day.

📚 Homework

1. Write 5 sentences each for would rather, would prefer, let alone in direct speech and convert to indirect speech.

2. Optional: Take a short conversation and convert 10 sentences using these expressions.

3. Practice speaking: Report sentences from classmates using indirect speech with special expressions.