此结构表示“宁愿(做)……而不愿(做)……”。如：

I’d rather go hungry than eat that! 我宁可挨饿也不吃那种东西!

I’ d rather pay his fine for him than let him go to prison. 我宁愿替他交罚款，也不愿让他蹲监狱。

He would rather have the small one than (have) the large one. 他宁愿要小的那个，而不愿要大的。

I’d rather use my money than leave it lying in the bank. 我宁可把钱花了也不想存在银行里。

I’d rather have a room of my own. however small (it is), than share a room. 无论房间多么小，我宁愿一个人住一间，而不愿意与别人合住一个房间。

五、用于口语表达I’d rather not

口语中说I’d rather not，表示委婉的不同意，其意为“我宁愿不……”。如：

“Are you coming with us?” “I’d rather not.” “你和我们一起来吗?“”我不想。”

“Some more wine” “Thank you. I’d rather not. I have to drive home.” “再来一点酒好吗？”“不要了，我不能再喝了。我还得开车回家呢。”

The boys’ d rather go by air, wouldn’t they? 男孩子更愿意坐飞机走，对吗?

You’d rather not wake a sleeping dog, would you? 你总不想没事找麻烦，对吧?