rather than 表示“取舍关系” ，为“而不是”的意思。它后面可以跟名词、代词、形容词、副词、介词短语、不定式、现在分词、过去分词、甚至从句，但这些必须和前面的成分是并列同等的。rather than 放在句末较多，放在句首更为强调。例如：

I like football rather than basketball. 我喜欢足球，而不喜欢篮球。（名词）

You should go there rather than I. 是你而非我应该去那里。（代词）

These shoes are comfortable rather than good-looking. 这些鞋子舒适而非好看。（形容词）

He writes fast rather than carefully. 他写字快但不认真。（副词）

She did it by herself rather than with the help of others. 她自己做，而不用别人帮忙。（介词短语）

She was smiling rather than laughing. 她在微笑，不是哈哈大笑。（现在分词）

He was rewarded rather than punished. 他收到了奖励，并不是惩罚。（过去分词）

We should try to reform criminals rather than (to) punish them.我们应该尽力改造罪犯，而不是惩罚他们。（不定式）

I come here to help you rather than to harm you.我到这里是来帮助你的，不是来伤害你的。（不定式）

I reasoned rather than quarreled with him. 我理论，而不是和他吵架。（并列过去式）

I should thank you rather than you thank me. 

我应当谢你而不是你谢我。（并列的句子）

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

我想现在就去看我的叔叔，而不是将来我有时间的时候（从句）