English grammar
I'd prefer it if / it'd be better if / it'd be nice if + past simple
Make gentle suggestions about changes to a shared home.
From the scene I'd prefer it if…
In short
Suggest a change gently with I'd prefer it if, it'd be better if or it'd be nice if + past simple.
Your turn
Which one goes with wouldn't it be better if…??
Options: it'd be nice if we got rid of that sofa · wouldn't it be better if we painted them yellow? · I'd prefer it if we painted the walls white
Show answer
wouldn't it be better if…? → wouldn't it be better if we painted them yellow?
How it works
To suggest a change gently, use I'd prefer it if, it'd be better if or it'd be nice if + past simple: I'd prefer it if we painted the walls white.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
It'd be nice if we (blank) rid of that ancient sofa.
Options: would get · got · will get
Show answer
It'd be nice if we got rid of that ancient sofa.
Estaría bien que quitáramos ese sofá tan viejo.
Good to know
The past simple makes it softer and more tentative, not past. Don't use would after if: if we painted (not: if we would paint).
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
You're right. I'd rather we (blank) touch it.
Clue: I'd rather + past simple, like the others
Options: won't · didn't · wouldn't
Show answer
You're right. I'd rather we didn't touch it.
Tienes razón. Preferiría que no lo tocáramos.
I'd prefer it if + past I'd prefer it if we painted the walls white
Nuria
I'd prefer it if we painted the walls white.
Preferiría que pintáramos las paredes de blanco.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank).
Options: I'd prefer it if we painted the walls white · Wouldn't it be better if we painted them yellow · It'd be nice if we got rid of that sofa
Show answer
Nuria
I'd prefer it if we painted the walls white.
Preferiría que pintáramos las paredes de blanco.
wouldn't it be better if…? wouldn't it be better if we painted them yellow?
Your turn
What goes with wouldn't it be better if we painted them yellow??
Options: I'd prefer it if + past · it'd be nice if + past · wouldn't it be better if…?
Show answer
wouldn't it be better if we painted them yellow? → wouldn't it be better if…?
it'd be nice if + past it'd be nice if we got rid of that sofa
it'd be better if + past it'd be better if we kept it
Nuria
His mother's sofa? It'd be better if we kept it.
¿El sofá de su madre? Sería mejor que lo guardáramos.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
His mother's sofa? (blank).
Options: I'd prefer it if we painted the walls white · Wouldn't it be better if we painted them yellow · It'd be better if we kept it
Show answer
Nuria
His mother's sofa? It'd be better if we kept it.
¿El sofá de su madre? Sería mejor que lo guardáramos.
Common mistake
Not will paint or would paint here. If + past simple, never would.
I'd prefer it if we painted the walls white.
Preferiría que pintáramos las paredes de blanco.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| I'd prefer it if + past | I'd prefer it if we painted the walls white |
|---|---|
| wouldn't it be better if…? | wouldn't it be better if we painted them yellow? |
| it'd be nice if + past | it'd be nice if we got rid of that sofa |
| it'd be better if + past | it'd be better if we kept it |
More lines from the story
- JaviIt'd be nice if we got rid of that ancient sofa.Estaría bien que quitáramos ese sofá tan viejo.
- JaviYou're right. I'd rather we didn't touch it.Tienes razón. Preferiría que no lo tocáramos.
- JaviWouldn't it be better if we painted them a brighter colour?¿No sería mejor que las pintáramos de un color más alegre?
- JaviGreat! Now we need to think about changes.¡Genial! Ahora hay que pensar en cambios.