一、rather than用作連詞，連接兩個(gè)平行結(jié)構(gòu)。既可以表示主觀愿望上的決擇，“與其…寧可…”，也可以表示客觀程度上的差異，“與其說是…不如說是…”。例如：

1、接代詞

1）I,rather than you,should do the work.

該做這工作的是我，而不是你。

2、接名詞

2）John ought to go rather than Jean.約翰比琴更應(yīng)該去。

3）I think I'll have a cold drink rather than coffee.

我想我該要一杯冷飲，而不要咖啡。

試比較：

4）We sometimes eat rice instead of potatoes.

有時(shí)候我們不吃土豆，而吃米飯。

3、接形容詞

5）These shoes are comfortable rather than for your friend.

這鞋不好看可是舒服。

6）You are doing this for yourself rather than for your friend.

你不是為你朋友，而是為你自己做這種事。

7)I'd prefer to go in August rather than in July.我愿8月去不愿7月去。

5、接動名詞

8)I always prefer starting early,rather than leaving everything to the last minute,

我總是愿意早開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.

他那時(shí)是在寫信而不是看報(bào)紙。

6、接過去分詞

10)She insisted on having the room papered rather than painted.

她堅(jiān)持要用紙裱糊房間，而不是把房間粉刷一下。

7、接不定式

11)I decided to write rather than telephone.我決定寫信而不是打電話。

12)They prefer to die fighting rather than live in enslavement.

他們寧可戰(zhàn)死，也不肯活著受奴役。

13)I prefer to work rather than remain idle.我寧愿工作而不愿閑著。

8、接謂語動詞

14)He told a lie rather than get his friend into trouble.

他寧愿說謊也不愿連累朋友。

15)Shall we go for a walk rather than watch television?

咱們不看電視，出去散步，好不好？

16)He ran rather than walked.他跑步而不是步行。

rather than后接動詞原形表示主觀抉擇，接一個(gè)動詞的過去式則表示客觀差異。

9、接從句

17)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。

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東西，而是他吃的東西。

二、rather than用作介詞

R.Quirk編著的《英語語法大全》p.1387明確指出：和as well as及in stead of一樣，rather than后面跟一個(gè)和母句中的動詞形式并不匹配的ing分詞分句時(shí)，它是介詞，而不是準(zhǔn)并列連詞：

19）Their actions precipitated the war rather than averting it.

他們的行為促使戰(zhàn)爭爆發(fā)而不是避免戰(zhàn)爭。

20）Rather than a new car,he bought a colour television.

他買了一臺彩電，而不是一輛新車。

21）Let's finish the job today,rather than leaving it till tomorrow.

讓咱們今天干完工作，而不是留到明天。

三、rather than用作從屬連詞，引導(dǎo)一種優(yōu)選分句。

R.Quirk在《英語語法大全》p.1540指出：優(yōu)先分句主要用從屬連詞rather than和sooner than引導(dǎo)，用不帶to的不定式作該分句的謂語動詞：

22）Rather than go there by air,I'd take the slowest train.

我寧愿乘最慢的火車，也不愿乘飛機(jī)去那兒。