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ICSE Question Bank
2018Q4(d)(iv)Grammar
Short answerHard1 mark
4(d)

Re-write the following sentences according to the instructions given after each. Make other changes that may be necessary, but do not change the meaning of each sentence.

I prefer playing a game to watching television. (Begin: I would rather .....................)

Topic: Transformation — 'would rather'

Previous-year question practice database

Answer

Exam answer

I would rather play a game than watch television.

Explanation

The two constructions take different connectives AND different verb forms, and both must change: prefer + GERUND + TO (prefer PLAYING... to WATCHING) would rather + BARE INFINITIVE + THAN (would rather PLAY... than WATCH)

Writing "I would rather playing a game than watching television" keeps the wrong verb form; writing "would rather play a game TO watch television" keeps the wrong connective. Both errors are common.

Note that "would rather" is followed by the BARE infinitive — no "to". Never "would rather to play".

This transformation appears in the 2020, 2021, 2024 and 2025 papers as well, in both directions. Learn it as a pair.

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