rather than 可作連詞詞組使用,連接兩個并列成分,表示在兩者中間進行選擇,意為“是 A 而不是 B ”、“要 A 不要 B ”、“寧愿 A 而不愿 B ”等,后面可以接名詞、代詞、形容詞、副詞、動詞和動詞不定式等.
1. 名詞.例如：
He is a writer rather than a teacher.
與其說他是教師,不如說他是作家.
John,rather than his roommates,is to blame.
要受責備的是約翰,而不是他的室友們.
The job will take months rather than weeks.
完成這項工作需要幾個月,而不是幾個星期.
2. 代詞.例如：
You,rather than she,are my guest.
你是我的客人,而不是她.
We are to blame rather than they.
該受責備的是我們,而不是他們.
3. 形容詞.例如：
The colour seems green rather than blue.
這顏色似乎是綠的,而不是藍的.
It was made shorter rather than longer.
它被縮短了,而不是加長了.
These shoes are comfortable rather than pretty.
這些鞋子與其說漂亮,不如說舒服.
4. 副詞.例如：
The ship sank quickly rather than slowly.
船沉得很快,而不是很慢.
He usually gets up early rather than late.
他經(jīng)常起得早,而不是起得晚.
5. 動詞.例如：
She left rather than stayed at home.
她不是呆在家里,而是走了.
Rather than cause trouble,he went away.
他寧可走開而不愿惹麻煩.
Rather than have the radio repaired,he’d like to buy a new one.
與其修理那部收音機,他想還不如買一部新的.
6. 介詞短語.例如：
I’d prefer to read in the library rather than at home.
我寧愿在圖書館看書,也不愿在家里看書.
I’d prefer to do it in this way rather than in that way.
我喜歡這樣做,而不愿意那樣做.
He went to the park in the evening rather than in the morning.
他喜歡晚上去公園,而不喜歡早上去.
7. 動詞的－ ing 形式.例如：
She likes dancing rather than singing.
她喜歡跳舞,而不喜歡唱歌.
It is snowing rather than raining outside.
外面在下雪,而不是在下雨.
She is laughing rather than crying.
她是在笑,而不是在哭.
8. 過去分詞.例如：
He had the house rebuilt rather than repaired.
他寧愿重建房子,而不愿修繕.
9. 句子.例如：
We should help him rather than he should help us.
我們應(yīng)該幫助他,而不是他應(yīng)該幫助我們.
It was what he meant rather than what he said.
那是指他話中的意思,而不是他所說的話.