网友的二个问题：

1 would rather （that）从句是否必须用虚拟语气？

答案为：是的。在具体用法上，英国英语和美国英语略有不同。

world rather + that 从句结构中，would为实意动词，意为 wished 后接的that从句表示的是与事实相反的愿望。因此，从句用had done表示与过去事实相反的愿望；用did/were/was表示与现在或将来事实相反的愿望。

在英国英语中，无论that从句表示的是过去、现在还是将来，都用过去形式的虚拟语气。以下为BNC英国英语语料库例句：

An argument develops between mother and son about a rock concert which Fabian desperately wants to go to. His mother would rather he studied. 从句时间为将来。（过去式表示将来）

He must persist with his present course. True, his critics would rather he settled for an easier life. 从句时间为将来。（过去式表示将来）

在美国英语中，that从句表示过去和现在时间时，和英国英语相同，从句用had done表示与过去事实相反，用did/were表示与现在事实相反。但是，当从句表示将来时间时，从句谓语动词不用过去形式的虚拟语气，而用be式虚拟语气，即用动词原型。以下为COCA美国英语语料库例句：

I would rather he be re-elected than to have me proven right in this silly military venture. 从句时间为将来。谓语动词用原型。

I, personally, would rather he go to a second-tier school where he could blossom and feel comfortable, than to come here and feel that everybody was competing against him, which is likely to happen. 从句时间为将来。谓语动词用原型

I would rather he were president than George Bush. 从句时间为现在，谓语用were.

Frankly I would rather he had tossed it out before he walked into that public setting. 从句时间为过去，谓语动词用had done形式。

词典将would rather收录为idiom, 因为其后的that从句用动词原型不好用语法解释。这种用法主要见于美国英语。

2 would rather+that 从句可否与than连用？

答案为：可以。主要见于美国英语，从句为将来时间，谓语动词用原型，than后接to do不定式。如COCA例句：

I would rather he be re-elected than to have me proven right in this silly military venture. 从句时间为将来。谓语动词用原型。

I, personally, would rather he go to a second-tier school where he could blossom and feel comfortable, than to come here and feel that everybody was competing against him, which is likely to happen. 从句时间为将来。谓语动词用原型。

I would rather he were president than George Bush.