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Overview of the usage of than
Instead of coordinate conjunctions, the usage is complicated and can be summarized as follows:
When 1. Instead of being used with would, it forms a sentence pattern of "would rather" ... than ... than ",which means subjective desire, that is, choose one from the other. For example:
She would rather die than lose her child. She would rather die than lose her child.
Ratherthan, when not used with would, indicates an objective fact, meaning "yes … not ……"; Instead of ... than ... "... the coordinate elements it connects can be nouns, pronouns, adjectives, prepositions (phrases), gerunds, clauses, infinitives, verbs and so on. Now described as follows:
(1) connects two nouns or pronouns.
He is not so much a sailor as an explorer. He is not so much a sailor as an explorer.
You, not me, are going camping. You, not me, went camping.
Note: when not connects two nouns or pronouns as subjects, the predicate verb should be consistent with the previous noun or pronoun, not in person and number.
(2) Connecting two adjectives
The sweater she bought is more beautiful than cheap. The sweater she bought is more beautiful than cheap.
(3) Connecting two prepositions (phrases) or gerunds
We will have the meeting in the classroom instead of in the Great Hall. We are having a meeting in the classroom, not in the hall.
She prefers singing to dancing. She prefers singing to dancing.
(4) Connecting two clauses
We should help him instead of him helping us.
(5) Connect two infinitives
I decided to write a letter instead of calling. I decided to write a letter instead of calling.
Note: when than is followed by an infinitive, the infinitive may or may not take to, as in the above sentence. But when than is at the beginning of a sentence, you can only take the infinitive without to. In order not to let the vegetables go bad, he sold them at half price. He sells vegetables at half price to prevent them from rotting.
(6) Connecting two verbs
He runs rather than walks. He came running, not walking.
Note: here, it is not so much a walk as an expression of objective facts, not subjective wishes. If you walk instead, you would rather … than …
Preferable usage
I'd rather, rather, better, or better, followed by the prototype of the verb, which is often omitted as' rather, indicating a way of partial love.
Its negative form is that it would rather not do something. The number of people who would rather be used has not changed, and all people say that they would rather be used.
"Would rather+verb prototype" is a common idiom in English, and had is often used in American English. Would (had) doesn't mean "past" here, it is a modal auxiliary verb, and there is no change in part of speech and tense.
Mr. Li would rather not listen to rock music. Mr Li doesn't want to listen to rock music.
If you want to be alone, we'll all leave here. If you want to be alone, let's all get out of here.
He would rather work in the country. She would rather work in the countryside.
You'd rather stay at home and read some books tonight. You'd better stay at home and read some books tonight.
Secondly, if you choose between the two, you can use the sentence pattern "rather than".
I would rather watch TV at home than go to the movies.
The children would rather go there on foot than by bus. The children would rather go there on foot than by bus.
Please note that 1) would rather … than …/would rather not … or vice versa: would rather not …Would rather (rather) and than are followed by infinitives without to. If the verbs used are the same, the verb after than can be omitted.
I would rather eat noodles than rice.
He would rather drink wine than beer. He prefers red wine to beer.
He would rather give up than work in such bad conditions. He would rather give up than work in such bad conditions.
2) Pay attention to the "coordinate structure" when using the sentence pattern of … rather than …, that is, use two similar words or phrases before and after than, such as two nouns, two infinitives and two prepositional phrases.
I would rather ride a bike than go to work by bus.
I would rather talk to his mother than to his father.
Third, in interrogative sentences, prefer and prefer … rather than … will come before the subject.
Would you rather stay here or go home? Would you rather stay here or go home?
Which do you prefer, apples or bananas? Do you like apples or bananas?
Would you rather read novels than poems? Would you rather read novels than poems?
Fourth, would rather+clause is a commonly used virtual sentence pattern, and the predicate is generally in the past tense, indicating present or future. It means "the best" ... or ... "and" one person would rather another person do something ". The structure of leading clauses is often omitted. When talking about past actions, the predicate is the past perfect tense.
John wants to see me today. I would rather he came tomorrow than today. John wants to see me today. I'd rather he came to see me tomorrow than today. In this sentence, came means not the past but the future.
We'd rather he paid us tomorrow.
Don't come tomorrow. I'd rather you came next weekend. Don't come tomorrow. I hope you can come next weekend.
Please note 1) If you are talking about past behavior, it means that what happened in the past is not appropriate in choice. At this point, the main clause is generally I had rather, and its (that) clause is the past perfect tense. I hope you didn't do that.
2) If only the subject himself is involved and no one else is involved, I would rather use the structure of have done instead of this clause.
I would rather go to the theatre than stay at home. I wish I had gone to the theatre last night instead of staying at home. He would rather be poor than get money by dishonest means. He would rather be poor than make money by dishonest means.
Henry prefers his girlfriend to work in the same department as him. Henry wants his girlfriend to work in the same department as him.
The difference between verbs (verb abbreviation) wouldrater/faster and Prefer/would Prefer; there is generally no difference between would rather and would faster, but they often come into contact with would rather.
Tom would rather read than talk. Tom prefers reading to talking. Tom prefers reading to talking.
Please note that 1) would rather be followed by an infinitive without to+ than by an infinitive without to+, and prefer is followed by a gerund +to+. Sometimes prefer can be followed by a noun, and after would, only the verb prototype is needed.
He prefers wine to beer. He would rather drink wine than beer.
I prefer tennis to golf. I would rather play tennis than golf. He prefers dogs to cats. He prefers dogs to cats. He would rather have a dog than a cat. Obviously, the meanings of these two sentences are not exactly the same.
3) Would rather+infinitive without to Sometimes you can use to instead of would rather+infinitive.
I would rather go by plane than by boat. I would rather fly than go by boat.
The same is true when these two structures are followed by nouns:
Example-Would you like some gin?
I prefer coffee. I would rather have coffee than gin.
Would you like some gin?
I want to drink some coffee. I'd rather have some coffee than gin.
4) I would rather/faster and I would rather be able to complete the perfect tense, but the latter needs it.
We went by boat, but I'd rather go by plane. We went by boat, but I want to go by plane. I wanted to go by plane, but my wish didn't come true. ) This is somewhat similar to the perfect form of would like+ infinitive, and the perfect form of would like+ infinitive with to also indicates unfulfilled wishes.