你的问题，《rather than 的语法与搭配》一文说得很清楚了：

1. rather than 放句首时，其后可接不定式或动名词，但接不定式时通常省略to。如：

Rather than waste [wasting] yourtime 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 lastof my cash, I decided to write a cheque. 我决定开张支票而不把现金用光。　　

2. rather than 连接两个不定式（即你说的前接不定式后面不定式的 to 是不是可省可不省）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 ratherthan go to the cinema. 我宁愿呆在家里也不愿去看电影。

I decided to stay at home ratherthan to go to the cinema. 我宁愿呆在家里也不愿去看电影。

I decided to stay at home ratherthan going to the cinema. 我宁愿呆在家里也不愿去看电影。

3. Rather than surfing theinternet, he likes reading books.

句中 rather than 的意思是“而不”，可以直译，也可根据情况将前后两部分调整一下顺序。如本句可译为：他喜欢看书而不不喜欢上网。/ 他不喜欢上网，而喜欢看书。

请注意体会以下句子：

Rather than waiting any more, I decided to go home by taxi. 我不想再等下去，决定坐出租汽车回家。

Rather than let him go to prison, I would pay his fine myself. 我宁肯自己代他付罚款，也不愿让他蹲监狱。

Rather than putting him in the hospital, she had been caring for him athome. 她没有让他住在医院，而是一直在家里照顾他。

rather thanencroach on his privacy she might have kept to her room. 她本来可以呆在自己的房间里而不去干涉他的隐私。