有一读者问： rather than 是连词还是介词？如是连词，那么它是并列连词还是从属连词？
关于 rather than 可相当于什么词类各家说法不一。有的说它只相当于介词。有的说它不但可用作介词，也可用作并列连词，有的则说它可用作介词，可用作并列连词，而且也可用作从属连词。我们比较倾向于最后一种见解。现将 rather than 的各种用法举例如下。让我们先谈 rather than 用作并列连词的情况，因为这种情况最为常见。作为并列连词，它可连接名词、代词、形容词、谓语动词、状语、不定式等。
1. 连接名词或名词短语，如：
(1)I like peaches rather than apples. （连接名词 peaches 与 apples）
(2)I think I'll have a cold drink rather than coffee. （连接名词短语 a cold drink 与名词 coffee）
(3)Vague hope, rather than real confidence, was the note in their conversation. （连接名词短语 vague hope 与 real confidence）
2. 连接代词，如：
(4)I, rather than you, should do it. （连接代词 I 与 you。 注意句中有两个逗号，故而rather than 亦可看作介词）
3. 连接形容词，如：
(5)The colour seems green rather than blue. （连接形容词 green 与 blue）
(6)The shoes are comfortable rather than pretty. （连接形容词 comfortable 与 pretty）
4. 连接谓语动词，如：
(7)He ran rather than walked. （连接谓语动词 ran 与 walked）
(8)She telephoned rather than wrote. （连接谓语动词 telephoned 与 wrote）
5. 连接状语，如：
(9)...implicating them, this time subtly rather than powerfully. （连接用作状语的副词 subtly 与 powerfully）
(10)We rely mainly on our own efforts rather than on outside help. （连接用作状语的介词短语 on our own efforts 与 on outside help）
6. 连接不定式，如：
(11)He will die rather than submit. （连接不带 to 的不定式 die 与submit）
(12)He wanted to sunbathe rather than swim. （连接带 to 的不定式 to sunbathe 与不带 to 的不定式 swim。 swim 前亦可用 to, 但常可省去不用）
(13)Competition is bound to increase rather than diminish. （连接 to increase 与 diminish）
(14)They cause young people to think and reason rather than just sit and listen. （连接 to think and reason 与 just sit and listen）
由于 rather than 已变成一个固定词组，所以它亦可连接限定动词形式和不带 to 的不定式，如：
(15)He died rather than live with such a mistress. （连接限定动词形式 died 与不带 to 的不定式 live）
(16)She had wandered away rather than be with her friends. （连接 had wandered 与 be）
“rather than+不带 to 的不定式”结构还可置于句首，以示强调，如：
(17)Rather than cause trouble, he left.
(18)Rather than go by air, I'd take the slowest train.
(19)Rather than get money in such a dishonest way, he would beg in the streets.
(20)Rather than have had this grievous wrong to confess, she would gladly have died.
7. 连接 -ing 形式，如：
(21)They were screaming rather than singing. （连接现在分词 screaming 与 singing）
(22)I always prefer starting early, rather than leaving everything to the last minute. （连接动名词短语 starting early 与 leaving everything to the last minute. rather than 前有逗号，故亦可看作介词（参见例[4]）
现在再让我们看看 rather than 相当于介词的情况。有的人将上述第一种情况中的 rather than 一律看作介词。我们则倾向于 rather than 作为介词只限于用在动名词之前，而且多置于一句之首，如：
(23)Rather than being so quick to knock an attempt at change, Mr.Rustin should extend it the same leeway.
(24)Rather than confining the artist's works to the museums, why not ask him to take his inspiration and apply it to our immediate environment?
(25)Rather than giving prominence to one or two heroes as most films do, Quivering Golden Wings portrays a group of admirable young people.
但“rather than+动名词”结构也可用在句末，如：
(26)Is there any chance of spring publication, rather than waiting till fall?
(27)Their actions precipitated the war rather than averting it.
最后一种情况是 rather than 用作从属连词，表示一种比较关系。这本是它的原职，但在当代英语中，它作为从属连词引导一个从句的用法已经是比较罕见了。这里只举二三例如下：
(28)Rather than you say anything, I would speak to the manager myself.
在正式英语中，这种从句则用 should, 如：
(29)She would die rather than Zora should know.
rather than 之后有时有 that, 如：
(30)I should thank you rather than that you thank me.
最后，请注意下列几点：
1. rather than 之后的不定式有时可带 to, 如上述例（12）中的 swim，但在多数情况下是不带 to 的。
2. rather than 之后有时既可用不定式，亦可用动名词，如：
(31)We ought to check up, rather than just accept what he says. （不定式亦可代之以 accepting）
3. rather than 后接不定式时常表主观上不愿干什么，如上述例（11）、（12）等，但如其后接限定动词形式，则表一种客观上的否定，如上述例（7）与例（8）。
4. 有些语法家反对使用 prefer...rather than,而认为必须用 prefer...to...但事实胜于雄辩，连不少语法书与词典都有用 prefer...rather than的例句。上述例（22）即是一例。再如：
(32)My son prefers watching TV rather than reading books.
这个句子中的 rather than 自然可被 to 所代替，但请看：
(33)I prefer to stay home rather than go.
这里则不可用 to go 或 to to go, 而非用 rather than 不可了。
5. 顺便说一下，英语中与 rather than 相似的还有 as well as, as much as, more than, sooner than （rather than 的口语形式）， other than 等。它们都有相当于何种词类的问题。
