引言
在英语学习过程中,很多同学对 “prefer to” 和 “rather than” 的用法感到困惑。 它们都用于表达“偏好”,但结构和语境却有所不同。本文将为你清晰梳理两者的区别,并提供大量实用例句。
“Prefer to”的基本用法
“Prefer to” 表示“更喜欢做某事”,后接动词原形或名词。
- Prefer to do something:更喜欢做某事
- Prefer something to something else:比起 B 更喜欢 A
I prefer to walk rather than drive.
She prefers tea to coffee.
She prefers tea to coffee.
“Rather than”的基本用法
“Rather than” 表示“而不是”,用于连接两个平行结构(如动词、名词、短语等)。
- 可放在句首、句中或句尾
- 前后成分需保持语法一致(平行结构)
He decided to write rather than call.
Rather than complain, she took action.
Rather than complain, she took action.
关键区别总结
- 结构不同:“Prefer to” 是动词短语;“Rather than” 是连词短语。
- 功能不同:“Prefer to” 表达主观偏好;“Rather than” 表达选择或替代。
- 搭配习惯:常组合使用,如 “I prefer to A rather than B”。
✅ I prefer to stay home rather than go out.
❌ I prefer staying home rather than to go out. (结构不平行)
❌ I prefer staying home rather than to go out. (结构不平行)
常见错误与纠正
学习者常犯的错误包括结构不平行、混淆主谓一致性等:
- 错误:I prefer reading than watching TV.
正确:I prefer reading to watching TV. - 错误:She’d rather to stay.
正确:She’d rather stay.(注意:“would rather” 后接动词原形)
小测验(自测)
试着判断以下句子是否正确:
- I prefer coffee than tea. → ❌(应为 “to tea”)
- He ran rather than walked. → ✅
- They prefer to travel by train rather than fly. → ✅