rather than的意思是：寧可...也不愿(與其...倒不如，而不是)，有并列的意思，是根據(jù)句子的意思來解釋的。例句：I think he means 'at' rather than 'to'；我想，他是想說at，而不是to。
一、rather than用作連詞，連接兩個平行結(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.
他那時是在寫信而不是看報紙。
6、接過去分詞
10)She insisted on having the room papered rather than painted.
她堅持要用紙裱糊房間，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？
