rather than的用法
一、rather than用作连词，连接两个平行结构。既可以表示主观愿望上的决择，“与其…宁可…”，也可以表示客观程度上的差异，“与其说是…不如说是…”。例如：
1、接代词
1）I,rather than you,should do the work.
该做这工作的是我，而不是你。
2、接名词
2）John ought to go rather than Jean.约翰比琴更应该去。
3）I think I'll have a cold drink rather than coffee.
我想我该要一杯冷饮，而不要咖啡。
试比较：
4）We sometimes eat rice instead of potatoes.
有时候我们不吃土豆，而吃米饭。
3、接形容词
5）These shoes are comfortable rather than good-looking.
这鞋不好看可是舒服。
6）You are doing this for yourself rather than for your friend.
你不是为你朋友，而是为你自己做这种事。
7)I'd prefer to go in August rather than in July.我愿8月去不愿7月去。
5、接动名词
8)I always prefer starting early,rather than leaving everything to the last minute.
我总是愿意早开始而不愿意把所有事情都留到最后才做。
9)He was engaged in writing a letter rather than reading the newspaper.
他那时是在写信而不是看报纸。
6、接过去分词
10)She insisted on having the room papered rather than painted.
她坚持要用纸裱糊房间，而不是把房间粉刷一下。
7、接不定式（一般省略to）
11)I decided to write rather than telephone.我决定写信而不是打电话。
12)They prefer to die fighting rather than live in enslavement.
他们宁可战死，也不肯活着受奴役。
13)I prefer to work rather than remain idle.我宁愿工作而不愿闲着。
8、接谓语动词
14)He told a lie rather than get his friend into trouble.
他宁愿说谎也不愿连累朋友。
15)Shall we go for a walk rather than watch television?
咱们不看电视，出去散步，好不好？
16)He ran rather than walked.他跑步而不是步行。
rather than后接动词原形表示主观抉择，接一个动词的过去式则表示客观差异。
9、接从句
17)It was what he meant rather than what he said.
那是指他话中的意思，而不是他所说的话。
18)It was what he had caten rather than what he had drunk that made him ill.使他得病的不是他喝的东西，而是他吃的东西。
二、rather than用作介词
R.Quirk编著的《英语语法大全》p.1387明确指出：和as well as及instead of一样，rather than后面跟一个和母句中的动词形式并不匹配的ing分词分句时，它是介词，而不是准并列连词：
19）Their actions precipitated the war rather than averting it.
他们的行为促使战争爆发而不是避免战争。
20）Rather than a new car,he bought a colour television.
他买了一台彩电，而不是一辆新车。
21）Let's finish the job today,rather than leaving it till tomorrow.
让咱们今天干完工作，而不是留到明天。
三、rather than用作从属连词，引导一种优选分句。
R.Quirk在《英语语法大全》p.1540指出：优先分句主要用从属连词rather than和sooner than引导，用不带to的不定式作该分句的谓语动词：
22）Rather than go there by air,I'd take the slowest train.
我宁愿乘最慢的火车，也不愿乘飞机去那儿。
1) rather than此处是介词短语，意思是"与其"、"不是"，相当于instead of。如：
I think you, rather than Mary, is to be punished.
我认为该受惩罚的是你，而不是玛丽。
Rather than fish, well have fried eggs and meat for lunch.
今天午餐吃煎蛋和肉，而没有鱼。
The colour seems green rather than blue.
这颜色看上去是绿的，而不是蓝的。
I always prefer starting early, rather than leaving everything to the last minute. 任何事情我总是喜欢早点做，不要到最后。
Ill have a cold drink rather than coffee. 我要喝冷饮，不想喝咖啡。
2)rather than可以和would连用，如would rather…than…或would…rather than…这时要注意"平行问题，即其前后必须用相同的语法单位。如：
Id rather have the red one than(have)the green one.
我宁愿要红的，不愿要绿的。
Id take the slowest train rather than go there by air.
我宁可乘坐最慢的火车也不愿坐飞机去那儿。
He would rather walk than drive. 他宁愿步行不愿开车。
Id prefer to go in August rather than in July. 我愿八月去，不愿七月去。
Id call her hair chestnut rather than brown.
我宁愿说她的头发是栗色，而不是棕色。
【注意】I'd rather +动词原形，通常意为"我宁愿……"，相当于"Id prefer to…"，具有选择意义，即"宁愿做……不愿做"。但是，当后接动词like, enjoy, appreciate时，rather是一个程度副词，象quite和fairly一样无选择意义，所以Id rather like不是"我宁愿喜欢"，而是"我相当（很）喜欢"。试比较下列句子：
①"Id rather like a cup of coffee." "Oh, would you? Id rather have a beer. " "我很想来杯咖啡。""噢，是吗？我宁愿喝杯啤酒。"
②We would rather appreciate your help. 我们非常感谢你的帮助。
③Which would you rather have, tea or coffee? 你更愿意喝什么，茶还是咖啡？
④He would rather enjoy seeing a film on Sundays. 他很喜欢在星期天看场电影。