Jerry Chen
Joined: 26 Jan 2006
Posts: 115
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 Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 9:23 pm Post subject: Need help from native English speakers |
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Hello,
Please help me with the verb form after "rather than."
Rather than ___(build?/building?) just one tunnel with seperate lanes for traffic in each direction, they decided to build two.
I would like to stay at home this evening rather than ___(go out?/ going out?)
Is "rather than" a conjunction or a prepositional phrase? "rather than" and "instead of" are similar in meaning; "instead of " is followed by a V-ing form, how about "rather than"?
Thanks for your explanation!! |
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Bob S.
Joined: 29 Apr 2004
Posts: 1767
Location: So. Cal
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| Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 2:11 pm Post subject: Re: Need help from native English speakers |
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| Jerry Chen wrote: |
Please help me with the verb form after "rather than."
Is "rather than" a conjunction or a prepositional phrase? "rather than" and "instead of" are similar in meaning; "instead of " is followed by a V-ing form, how about "rather than"? |
Rather than is a very tricky grammar form because it can be either a conjunction or a preposition (specifically an adverbial prepositional phrase).
Here is an article on the use of rather than.
Basically, the rules are: if you can replace it with and not (typically after the main verb), then it is a conjunction. If you can replace it with instead of, then it is a preposition.
Also, if the verb after rather than is parallel (similar in tense) to the main verb of the sentence, then you can generally use a bare infinitive. If they are not parallel, then you must use a gerund. Instead of forms of rather than generally use gerunds.
Rather than ___(build?/building?) just one tunnel with separate lanes for traffic in each direction, they decided to build two.This is an instead of form, so you would use a gerund (building). Also, the basic verb decided is past tense, and you cannot use past tense with rather than, so again you'd use the gerund form building.
I would like to stay at home this evening rather than ___(go out?/ going out?)Since the main verb like is present tense, you can use go out (go is also present tense so is parallel). You could still use the gerund form here, but by common usage, it would sound awkward.
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"It is impossible to speak in such a way that you cannot be misunderstood." -- Karl Popper |
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