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。它可以连接任何词性相同的词。如：
He ran rather than walked. 他不是在走而是在跑。
He is a writer rather than a teacher. 与其说他是教师还不如说他是作家。
He is an artist rather than a philosopher.
与其说他是个哲学家，不如说他是个艺术家。
You are doing this for yourself rather than for others. 你做这件事不是为别人而是为你自己。
It was what he meant rather than what he said. 这是他的意思，而不是他说的话。
I think I'll have a cold drink rather than coffee.
我想要冷饮，不要咖啡。
Consumption rather than saving has become the central feature of contemporary societies.
现代社会的主要特征是消费而不是储蓄。
It would be better to transport the goods by rail rather than by road.
用铁路运送这批货物会比用公路好。
The office was large and functional rather than welcoming.
这个办公室大而实用，但不怎么宜人。
The zoo needed better management rather than more money.这座动物园需要更好的管理，而不是更多的资金。
We urged them to sort out the problem sooner rather than later.
我们敦促他们及早解决那个问题。
Older parents seem to be the norm rather than the exception nowadays.
生育较晚的大龄父母在今天似乎成了常事，而不是个例。
Most of these will be fleeing cold and hunger, rather than fighting.这些人中的大部分会因饥寒交迫而逃亡，而不是因为战争。
Their problems were circumstantial rather than personal.
他们的困难是环境而非个人所致。
The report's focus is on how technology affects human life rather than business.
这个报告关注的是技术如何影响人类生活而非商业活动。
We're looking for people who have experience rather than paper qualifications.
我们要找有经验的人，而不是有文凭的人。
Europe has got used to following rather than leading the pack.
欧洲已经习惯了跟从，而不是领头儿。
What made you choose the one rather than the other?
你怎么选了这个而不是那个？
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。
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。
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。
The police presented a reactive rather than preventive strategy against crime.
警方对付犯罪的办法，不是事先加以防范，而是事后作出反应。
Increasingly, training is taking place in the office rather than outside it.
在职培训日益增加，而不是脱产进行。
Many workers opted to leave their jobs rather than take a pay cut.
许多工人宁肯下岗也不接受减薪。《牛津高阶英汉双解词典》
She thought it best to humour him rather than get into an argument.
她想最好是顺他的意，而不和他争吵。
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 home rather than (to) go [going] to the cinema. 我宁愿呆在家里也不愿去看电影。
但是，如果rather than 位于句首，其后的不定式通常不带to（也可用动名词）。如：
Rather than 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?
Rather than 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 teacher rather than the students is to blame. 应受责备的是老师而不是学生。
4. rather than和instead of同义，但是用法不同，可以从句型上相互转化：两者都可以接名词、代词；但是接动词时rather than比较灵活；instead of遇到动词只能接动名词。
Many workers opted to leave their jobs rather than take a pay cut.
许多工人宁肯下岗也不接受减薪。《牛津高阶英汉双解词典》
Many workers opted to leave their jobs instead of taking a pay cut.
She thought it best to humour him rather than get into an argument.
她想最好是顺他的意，而不和他争吵。
She thought it best to humour him instead of getting into an argument.
5. 表示主观上选优。主句表示喜欢做的事。
常与prefer连用，即 prefer to do sth rather than (to) do sth。
与would连用时，常将rather提前，构成 would rather do…than do…结构。当然，也可以用 would…rather than…
“宁愿做……也不愿做……”
He would rather beg in the streets than get money in such a dishonest way.
他宁愿在街上乞讨，也不愿以这种不诚实的方式得到钱。
He prefer to beg in the streets rather than (to) get money in such a dishonest way.
注意：我们在讲解prefer 和rather than 搭配用法时，常强调rather than后面的动词应该用原形，这是习惯用法。但是加上to也是正确的。不过，中学阶段还是不要加to为好了。