1.- Grammar: 54. rather. In expressions of preference rather is commonly preceded by would: We would rather go to the lake than stay in town for the weekend. In formal style, you sometimes see should instead of would: I should rather my daughter attended a private school.

http://www.bartleby.com/64/C001/054.html

http://www.tillyer.net/GLOW/fsi108.htm

3.- Would Rather. Would rather is used to express preference.  That means, would rather is used to choose one thing over another. Would rather can be used with many tenses.  These tenses include simple present, present perfect (to express a past action), and present progressive.

http://esl.lbcc.cc.ca.us/eesllessons/wouldrather/wouldrat.htm

4.-Dictionary. Rather. USAGE NOTE   In expressions of preference rather is commonly preceded by would: We would rather rent the house than buy it outright. In formal style, should is sometimes used: I should rather my daughter attended a public school. Sometimes had appears in these constructions, although this use of had seems to be growing less frequent: I had rather work with William than work for him.

http://www.answers.com/topic/rather

5.- Would rather:  To express preference.    Would rather + infinitive without 'to': I'd rather leave now. Would rather + pronoun + past tense: I'd rather he came early.

http://www.usingenglish.com/articles/rather.html

6.-Grammar Clinic 168- Para expressarmos preferência na língua inglesa, usamos as seguintes formas:He PREFERS something TO something else. He LIKES something BETTER THAN something else.  He WOULD RATHER do something THAN do something else.

http://www.teclasap.com.br/boletim/ed_anteriores/grammar168.shtml

7.- Would rather. I would rather (I'd rather) = I prefer (to). Examples: a. She'd rather go to Spain than to Italy this summer. b. Peter would rather you didn't come to dinner tonight. c. I'd rather live in a house than in a flat.

http://www.elalmanaque.com/diciembre/11-12-ing.htm

8.-Rather. ETYMOLOGY: Middle English, from Old English hrathor, comparative of hræthe, quickly, soon, from hræth, quick. Usage Note: In expressions of preference rather is commonly preceded by would: We would rather rent the house than buy it outright.

http://yahooligans.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry?id=R0052300

9.-Quantifying ‘Somewhat’ ‘Quite’ and ‘Rather’.An analysis of minute linguistic differences. Rather has some other common (read: vulgar) meanings: the preference (i.e. I would rather die in my own filth) and the contrary (i.e. It is blue rather than periwinkle). But my Rather is decidedly complimentary. If you say it “Rather” it is very much so. Rather used to be my universal compliment. In fact, I had my own superlative version, “Ratherest,” to be used for exceedingly fabulous trousers, hairstyles, and accessories. It was also liberally applied, somewhat fetishistically, to especially well-formed body-parts/ boys.
 

http://www.thestrand.ca/media/paper404/news/2002/03/13/Stranded/Quantifying.8216somewhat8217.8216quite8217.And.8216rather8217-216818.shtml

10.- (Had rather}, or {Would rather}, prefer to; prefers to; as,    he had, or would, rather go than stay. ``I had rather    speak five words with my understanding than ten thousands    words in an unknown tongue.'' --
 

http://www.hyperdictionary.com/dictionary/rather

11.-What's the difference between the two? 1. He would rather run than walk. (OK. Comparative Adverb meaning, 'instead of' or 'a choice expressing a more likely alternative. Note the structure: rather Infinitive Verb than Infinitive Verb).
2. Rather than walk (to the store), he ran. (OK. Adverb; Note, rather than DO something - infintive verb e.g. DO, go, sleep, shop, etc.)
 

http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/printthread.php?t=2494

12.- Dictionary.  had or would rather, to prefer that or to: I had much rather we not stay. We would rather go for dinner after the show.

http://www.infoplease.com/ipd/A0616615.html

13.- Stating a Preference. Sometimes you need to state a preference when someone makes a suggestion, offers something or asks your opinion about what to do. Often people are asking for your opinion and you can state your preference freely, other times, people have made an offer and you need to state a preference politely if you do not want to do what has been suggested, or would rather do something else.

http://esl.about.com/library/grammar/blgr_prefer.htm

14.- Rather. Function: adverb. Etymology: Middle English, from Old English hrathor, comparative of hrathe quickly; akin to Old High German rado quickly, Old English hræd quick. more readily or willingly : PREFERABLY <I'd rather not go> <would rather read than watch television> -- often used interjectionally to express affirmation

http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=rather

15.- Learning English. However, when we are talking about specifics, would rather is used as an alternative to would prefer to followed by an infinitive. Would rather is very common in spoken English and is often abbreviated to 'd rather. It is used in this form with all personal pronouns:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv107.shtml