I'd rather he came early

[Ju]

I want to say I hope he will come early. Is the following sentence correct? I put "came" instead of "come" because "would" is in past tense.

"I'd rather he came early."

Thanks.

 

[Phaedrus]

"I'd rather he came early" is correct.

You could also say, equivalently:

"I'd prefer for him to come early."

"I'd prefer it if he came early."

 

[Ju]

"I'd rather he came early" is correct.

You could also say, equivalently:

"I'd prefer for him to come early."

"I'd prefer it if he came early."

If I want to say it in past tense. Shall I still say the same as ""I'd rather he came early"?

If yes, then how do I know one is saying about the past or the future?

Thanks.

 

[GoesStation]

The least ambiguous way is 'I would have preferred him to come early'.

In American English you could say I would have preferred that he come early. "Come" is in the subjunctive mood.

 

[Ju]

In American English you could say I would have preferred that he come early. "Come" is in the subjunctive mood.

May I ask why we don't put "s" behind "come" since it's after "he"?

 

[emsr2d2]

The third person singular "s" isn't used in the subjunctive.

 

[Ju]

The third person singular "s" isn't used in the subjunctive.

May I ask what is "subjunctive mood"?

Thanks.

 

[Matthew Wai]

http://www.grammaring.com/present-subjunctive

 

[tedmc]

May I ask what is "subjunctive mood"?

Thanks.

May I ask what "subjunctive mood" is?
You probably may also ask why "is" comes after the noun. You can search under "indirect questions".

 

[Ju]

http://www.grammaring.com/present-subjunctive

But under what situation should I apply subjunctive in a sentence?