rather than 後面接Ving還是VR?

最近在某英文老師賴群討論到這個議題，跟大家分享一下。
先看一下Merriam-Webster (Learner's Dictionary)字典上rather than條目的例句:

rather than
1 : in place of (something or someone) : instead of (something or someone)
(e.g.) Rather than using dried herbs, he picked fresh ones from the garden.
2 — used to say what is not chosen or done because something else is chosen or done instead
(e.g.) Rather than continue the argument, she walked away.

咦? 怎麼rather than後面可以加Ving，又可以用原V? 好像有點混淆?

後來又查了Merriam-Webster字典，有字典編輯專門寫一篇專欄-- 'Rather Than': Is It a Conjunction or Preposition? It's both, and we'll tell you why. 就解釋得非常清楚了!

以下是結論:

1. 當rather than當連接詞時，句子前後使用平行結構，後面接原形動詞。

[例句]:

For exercise, I walk rather than run.

He decided to call rather than text.

Rather than repair the car, I prefer to buy a new one.

rather than後面除了接動詞，後面其實也可以接名詞、形容詞、副詞和有平行結構的介係詞。rather than後面接的東西就是不選的東西。

[例句]:

I drink coffee rather than tea.

He bought red rather than green peppers.

She eats slowly rather than quickly.

Can we come over on Saturday rather than (on) Sunday?

2. 當rather than 作介系詞時，意思等同instead of，後面接Ving，並引導從屬子句(從屬子句不能單獨成句)。

[例句]:

Rather than (=Instead of) driving, he rode his bike to work.

Rather than (=Instead of) using dried herbs, he picked fresh ones from the garden.

She took the blame rather than (=instead of) blaming everyone else.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

所以在寫類似的句子的時候，可以對照一下字典，看你寫的句子的rather than比較像連接詞還是介系詞。

至於大家最關心的考試要選什麼，多益大師李海碩老師有說多益不會出這種題目，然後很久以前大學聯考似乎有考這題，不過好像是送分喔! 所以大家可以不用糾結這個文法啦!