Had better/Would rather

Had better (=it would be good to) es usado para dar un consejo fuerte o urgente.

     Had better + bare infinitive -> futuro inmediato

          You had better apologise to Sonya.

Would rather (=would prefer to) expresa preferencia. Cuando el sujeto de would rather es también el sujeto del siguiente verbo, usamos las siguientes construcciones:

     would rather + present bare infinitive -> present/future

          I'd rather help you with that later.

     would rather + present perfect bare infinitive -> past
          I went to the club but  I'd rather have stayed at home.

     would rather + bare infinitive + than (+ bare infinitive)
          Since it's such a beautiful day,  I'd rather play football than (play) 
          squash today.

Cuando el sujeto de would rather es diferente del sujeto del siguiente verbo, usamos las siguientes construcciones:

     would rather + past tense -> present/future
          I'd rather John told you about the plan because it was his idea.

     would rather + past perfect -> past
          I'd rather we had left home a bit earlier, then we wouldn't have 
            been caught in the rush hour.