rather是固定短语,意为"或者说;更确切地说".
一、 用作程度副词,意为"稍微;有点;颇;相当"
1. rather可以修饰形容词、副词的原级、比较级等;可以与介词短语连用.如:
She was rather hurt by his unkind words.
She's rather better today.
She looks rather like her father.
These materials are rather too difficult for the seniors.
2. rather放在不定冠词a(n)前后均可.如:
Miss Smart has got a rather(=rather a) good voice.
二、 用作副词,意为"宁可,宁愿"
1. rather than意为"而不是;与其……不如", 后接名词、代词、形容词、动词原形等.如:
These shoes are comfortable rather than pretty.
Rather than allow the vegetables to go bad, he sold them at half price.
It is he rather than I who is to blame.
2. would rather do...than do...=would do...rather than do...宁愿做……而不愿做…….如:
I would go there by bus rather than take the train.
3. prefer to do...rather than do... 宁愿做……而不愿做…….如:
We prefer to receive money rather than the usual gifts.
三、 用作感叹词,意为"当然"
- Would you like a swim?
- Rather.
四、 习惯用语及搭配
1. or rather更确切, 更恰当; 更接近.如:
He went home very late last night, or rather, in the early hours this morning.
2. would rather意为"宁愿", 后接动词原形,其否定形式是would rather not do.如:
Which would you rather have, tea or coffee?
American young people would rather get advice from strangers.
3. I would rather that...这是虚拟语气形式,若从句表示与现在或将来的情况相反,用一般过去时;与过去的事实相反,用过去完成时.如:
I would rather you came tomorrow.
I'd rather you hadn't told her the news yesterday.
参考资料:http://www.e-l-e.net.cn/enewspaper/2003-2004b/disparticle.asp?id=471