"I'd rather you explained to her why we can't go" or "I'd rather you would explain to her why we can't go"?
Why first one is the correct one? Is it because of indirect speech but if it's second one fits as well since will becomes would?
Or is it because first one is correct because would ("I would rather") is already used in the first part of the sentence thus it isn't appropriate to use would ("you would explain") in the second part of the sentence?
Which one is correct?
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Re: Which one is correct?
It simply happens that 'would rather (you) DID smth.' is the standard construction.
'Did' here is technically classified as a past subjunctive.
'Did' here is technically classified as a past subjunctive.