ESL Writing: Instead of / Rather than (handout)

This ESL writing lesson introduces the proper usage of “instead of” and “rather than” with several sample sentences.

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Instead of / Rather than

Sentence Pattern:
A instead of B
A rather than B

Instead of and rather than mean “in place of”.

• • My wife wanted to buy a new car, but I decided to buy a used car.
    – I bought a used car instead of a new car.
    – I bought a used car rather than a new car.
    
    

• • Everyone ordered chicken at the restaurant, but because I had chicken for dinner last night, I decided to order the fish.
    – I ordered the fish instead of the chicken.
    – I ordered the fish rather than the chicken.
     
  • It’s a nice day today, so I didn’t drive my car. I walked to work.
    – I walked to work instead of driving.
    – I walked to work rather than driving.

Note: If “A” and “B” are verbs, you must add “-ing” to the verb after instead of/rather than:

• • Wrong: I went running instead of ride a bike. (x)
  • Right: I went running instead of riding a bike.
  • Right: I went running rather than riding a bike.

• • Wrong: John decided to play video games rather than do his homework. (x)
  • Right: John decided to play video games rather than doing his homework.
  • Right: John decided to play video games instead of doing his homework.