表示“舍去”概念的rather than

■本站特約作者 劉永科

在必修三第5單元中，有這樣一個句子：Rather than take the aeroplane all the way, they decided to fly to Vancouver and then take the train west to east across Canada.他們不想一路乘飛機，而決定先飛到溫哥華，再從西海岸乘火車橫穿加拿大到達東海岸。在必修六第4單元也出現了類似的一個句子：It is human activity that has caused this global warming rather than a random but natural phenomenon. 這兩句話里面都含有rather than這個短語，說明這是一個比較常用的固定詞組。　　

rather than是一個常用的固定短語，表示“取舍關系”，rather than之后的部分為“舍”。 rather than的意思有兩個：①“而不是”；②“寧可不”。在本句中rather than的用法屬于后者“寧可不”。那么，rather than 之后可以跟什么成分呢？

當rather than表示“而不是”的意思時，它后面可以跟名詞、代詞、形容詞、副詞、介詞短語、不定式、現在分詞、過去分詞、甚至從句，但這些必須和前面的成分是并列同等的。例如：

I like football rather than basketball. （名詞）

You should go there rather than I.（代詞）

These shoes are comfortable rather than good-looking.（形容詞）

He writes fast rather than carefully.（副詞）

She did it by herself rather than with the help of others.（介詞短語）

She was smiling rather than laughing.（現在分詞）

He was rewarded rather than punished.（過去分詞）

We should try to reform criminals rather than (to) punish them.我們應該盡力改造罪犯，而不是懲罰他們。（不定式）

I come here to help you rather than to harm you.我到這里是來幫助你的，不是來傷害你的。（不定式）

I reasoned rather than quarreled with him.  我理論，而不是和他吵架。（并列過去式）

I should thank you rather than that you thank me.我應當謝你而不是你謝我。（句子）

I would go to see my uncle right now rather than when I have time some day.（從句）

上述例句中，rather than之后實際上是省略了與前面相對應的成分。

當rather than表示“寧可不”的意思時，其后的動詞一律用原形，不管前面的謂語是什么時態。例如：

We insisted on starting the work at once rather than leave it for the next day.

He sold the vegetables at half price rather than allow them to go bad.　　

The hero would die rather than give in.　　

I prefer to walk there rather than take a bus. 　　

Some people prefer to brazen a thing out rather than admit defeat.

It is better to express your anger, rather than bottle it up.生氣寧可發泄出來而不要悶在肚內。

I prefer to walk there rather than take a bus.與其坐公共汽車去，還不如走路去。

此外，rather than經常和would和had 連用，構成would rather … than (寧愿…而不) 和 had rather … than (寧愿…而不)句型。例如:

The hero would rather die than give in.

I had rather wait here than go away.

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