1、rather是程度副词，用来修饰原级或比较级形容词和副词、动词、分词或单数名词，意思是“有些”“相当”“多少地”，常用于负面含意。rather可和too连用，作程度状语，但此时不可以修饰比较级。
2、rather用以减弱而不是加强其后所跟的词或词组的作用，如拒绝别人请求帮助时，显得比较客气，又如为了谦虚，可用这词使自己在引人注目的场面表现得乐而不狂。
3、rather一般放在不定冠词前面，名词前有形容词时，也可放在不定冠词后面。
4、rather than和more...than的比较：前者表示“与其……倒不如……”，后者表示“更……比起……”，注意词组more...than中的than前面不可以加上rather。
5、在rather加形容词再加名词的结构中，冠词a置于rather前后都可以，如a rather big dog和rather a big dog（一只相当大的狗）两种表达都可以；
6、had rather属于习惯用语，表示“宁愿，宁可”，主语短语中必须用had，不可以改成have，且一般其后面接不含to的不定式。
7、had/would rather后一般接不含that所引导的从句，且从句用虚拟语气。had/would rather后还可接than，再加不含to的不定式，还要注意would rather后只可接动词原形。
扩展资料
rather的近义词
一、quite 英 [kwaɪt] 美 [kwaɪt]
adv. 相当；完全；十分；很
quite可用作加强语气的强势词，意思相当于汉语的“完全，十分”，常与没有比较级的形容词(如correct， unique等)以及表示极度的形容词或副词(如amazing， unbelievable， brilliantly等)连用。
二、very 英 ['veri] 美 ['veri]
adv. 很；完全；正是
adj. 恰好的；同一的；真正的；最...的
very用作形容词，表示“实在的，真正的”“极端的”，在句中用作定语。very和the，this，that，my，your，his连用，作“正是，就是，甚至于”解。
ad.
1. 相当,颇,有点儿
I'm feeling rather sleepy.
我有点困倦。
2. (常与would或had连用)宁可,宁愿;(与其...)倒不如;而不是
He would rather play than work.
他宁可玩,却不愿工作。
I'd rather you knew that now, than afterwards.
与其以后让你知道,不如现在就让你知道。
I'll never be dependent on anyone again. I'd rather starve.
我再也不依靠任何人了。我宁愿饿死。
3. (常与or连用)更确切地说
He left late last night, or rather early this morning.
他昨夜很晚,或者应该说是今天一大早才走。
4. 【英】(用于回答问题)确是如此;当然
课文中出现的一句话:
They knew， or rather thought that their father was on the same train. 他们知道,或者说他们认为他们的父亲是在同一列车上的.
这里or rather是固定短语,意为"或者说;更确切地说".那么rather还有哪些用法呢?
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.
高考真题回放:
1. - Shall we go skating or stay at home？
.- Which _____ do yourself？ （MET'92）
A. do you rather
B. would you rather
C. will you rather
D. should you rather
2. Rather than ______ on a crowded bus， he always prefers a bicycle. （NMET'94）
A. ride； ride B. riding； ride
C. ride； to ride D. to ride； riding
简析:
1. B 考查would rather do sth. 这一句型的用法.
2. C 这是prefer to do...rather than do...这一常用句型的变式,用法一致本回答被提问者和网友采纳
KK: []
DJ: []
ad.
1. 相当,颇,有点儿
I'm feeling rather sleepy.
我有点困倦。
2. (常与would或had连用)宁可,宁愿;(与其...)倒不如;而不是
He would rather play than work.
他宁可玩,却不愿工作。
I'd rather you knew that now, than afterwards.
与其以后让你知道,不如现在就让你知道。
I'll never be dependent on anyone again. I'd rather starve.
我再也不依靠任何人了。我宁愿饿死。
3. (常与or连用)更确切地说
He left late last night, or rather early this morning.
他昨夜很晚,或者应该说是今天一大早才走。
4. 【英】(用于回答问题)确是如此;当然