“宁愿．．．而不．．．”表达法种种
涟源市私立行知中学 曾省初 刘扬群
[精讲]一 Prefer表示“宁愿”的表达法：
1． prefer something to something意为:喜欢某事而不喜欢某事或宁愿干某事而不原做某事。
[考例]1. ______ does Tom prefer _________ bananas?
A. How; to B. What; rather C. What; to D. Which; to
[点拨]答案为C.此题考查“prefer sth to sth”的结构；What作prefer的宾语，即：prefer what to bananas.
2． prefer doing something to doing something意为：宁愿做某事而不愿做某事。
如： 1. I prefer walking to cycling.
译文： 我宁愿步行而不愿骑车。
3． prefer to do something rather than do意为：宁愿做某事而不愿做某事。
如： He prefers to live in the countryside rather than stay in the city.
译文： 他宁愿住在乡村而不愿呆在城里。
[高考考例]1. Rather than _____ on a crowded bus, he always prefers _____ a bicycle.
A. ride; ride B. riding; ride C. ride; to ride D. to ride; riding [MET1992]
[思路点拨]答案为C。此题考查“prefer to do something rather than do something”的结构。
4． Prefer somebody to do something 意为：宁愿某人做某事。
[高考考例]2. --- Do you think the Stars will beat the Bulls?
--- Yes. They have better players, so I ______ them to win.
A. hope B. prefer C. expect D. want [NMET1999]
[思路点拨]本句在谈两个球队谁会胜，因为“the Stars有不错的选手”，具备赢比赛的条件。四个选项中，hope不可接sb to do sth. Expect 可以表示“预料或预计某事会发生”。Prefer 表示“更喜欢”，want为“想”， 他们侧重于主观意愿。故此题选择C为最佳。
[精讲]二 rather 表示“宁愿”的表达法：
1. would rather/ had rather ．．．than．．．意为： 宁愿．．．而不愿．．．
如：[错]1. I had rather stay with John than Charles.
[正] I had rather stay with John than Charles.
[错]2. I will rather play than work.
[正] I would/ had rather play than work.
[考例]1. --- Will you join us in a game of cards?
--- Thank you, but I’d rather A .
A. not B. not to C., not join D. not do
[考例]2. I asked if she would like a taxi. “No, I’d rather B a taxi. It’s such a lovely day,” she answered.
A. walk than to take B. walk than take
C. to walk than take D. to walk than to take
2. would rather前后可用不同的主语来表示某人宁愿让某人做某事。在这种情况下，一般用过去时来表示现在或将来；谈到过去的情况，一般用过去完成时。
如：1 I would rather you paid me now. (现在)
2. I would rather you had come yesterday. （过去）