Hi! Is construction "I would sooner you did not do that " or other ones with would sooner commonly used in Britain? I have seen for the first time today. I wish, I would sooner seem to me rather formal or am I mistaken? I would rather say: I am sorry I wasn't nicer to you in the past than I wish I had been nicer to you in the past. brrrr . Or just "I should have been nicer to you in the past". How is it? Do they really differ ? Which one is native Brit most likely to use in conversation?
"I would sooner" is not very common, and when used is considered very formal. The alternatives you give are far more common, especially for past regrets. My experience is that "I would sooner" is more common in talking about the future, even to react to something that someone has just started doing - "I would sooner you didn't turn on the television." People generally use expressions such as " I would prefer...../I would rather.......".Originally Posted by magdalena
To DavyBCN: It is the first time that I see this expression. So "I would sooner" means " I would prefer...../I would rather.......".
"Sooner" used in the way you mentioned is very common in the American South. It means "rather" or indicates a preference. (The idea of "soon" meaning promptly, or without hesitation.)
"I'd sooner go fishing than go to school."
"My father would sooner shave with a dull razor than get dressed up for church on Sunday."
It's colloquial speech, but it is nonetheless easily understood, at least in the US.
Thank you Ouisch.
Ach I love this forum! Thank you all!
Yes - but very formal and not very common for BE speakers.
Hello.
What about "would just as soon"? Is it common in AE and BE?
Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary
would sooner or would just as soon
—used to indicate what you want or prefer to do, have, etc. ▪ He would sooner [=would rather] lose everything than admit that he was wrong. ▪ We asked him to come with us, but he said he'd just as soon stay home.
It's common in AmE and AusE.
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