rather than的用法:与would连用,would…rather than…或者would rather…than…,意思为宁愿、与其……不如……,例如“I would rather have noodles than rice”,意思为我宁愿吃面条也不吃米饭。
1.用作连词(=but not),意为“而不”“不是……(而是)”“与其……(不如)”,前后连接的成分应该是平行的。
如:
He ranratherthan walked.他不是在走而是在跑。
He is a writerratherthan a teacher.与其说他是教师还不如说他是作家。
You are doing this for yourselfratherthan for others.你做这件事不是为别人而是为你自己。
It was what he meantratherthan what he said.这是他的意思,而不是他说的话。
2.由于既可视为连词也可视为介词,所以连接不定式时,后面一个不定式可带to或不带to(视为准并列连词时),也可用动名词(视为介词时)。
如:
I decided to stay at homeratherthan (to) go [going] to the cinema.我宁愿呆在家里也不愿去看电影。
但是,如果ratherthan 位于句首,其后的不定式通常不带to(也可用动名词)。
如:
Ratherthan waste [wasting] your time doing it yourself, why don’t you call in a builder? 你为什么宁愿浪费时间自己去干而不去请一个包工的呢?
Ratherthan use [using] the last of my cash, I decided to write a cheque.我决定开张支票而不把现金用光。
3.连接两个成分作主语时,其谓语动词的数通常与前面一个主语保持一致。
如:The teacherratherthan the students is to blame.应受责备的是老师而不是学生。
1、What made you choose the one rather than the other?
你怎么选了这个而不是那个?
2、It now seems a probability rather than just a possibility.
这件事似乎十拿九稳,而不是仅有可能。
3、The decision was based on emotion rather than rational thought.
这个决定不是基于理性的思考而是基于感情作出的。
4、Good writing is unfortunately the exception rather than the rule.
可惜优秀的文字作品真是可遇不可求。
5、The report was a device used to hide rather than reveal problems.
这份报告不是揭露问题而是为掩盖问题而耍的花招。