一.why not句式
why not后習慣上接動詞原形，不能接帶to不定式或現在分詞，主要用于表示同意、贊成、勸誘等，其意為“為什么不……呢”。如：
A：May I go with you? 我可以和你一起去嗎?
B：Why not? 可以呀。
Why not try again?干嘛不再試呢?
Why not use both? 何不兩者都用?
Why not ask someone else? 問問別人怎么樣?
But why not write him from Lisbon? 干嗎不從里斯本給他寫信?
Why not meet and discuss it? 我們碰個頭討論一下這件事不行嗎?
You’re looking tired. Why not take a holiday? 你一臉倦容，怎么不休假呢?
Why not wait till the winter sales to buy a new coat? 為什么不等到冬季大賤賣時再買一件新外衣呢?
If you have to go to the dentist, why not go at once and get it over? 你要是必須去看牙醫，為什么不馬上就去，一了百了呢?
二.would rather句式
1. “would rather+動詞原形”意為“寧愿做某事”，其中的動詞原形不能改為不定式或分詞。如：
We’d rather stay at home. 我們寧愿呆在家里。
I would rather not tell him. 我寧愿不告訴他。
We would rather not meet him. 我們寧愿不和他相見。
I’d rather work in a supermarket. 我寧愿在超級市場工作。
He would rather listen to others than talk himself. 他寧愿聽別人談而不愿自己談。
Which would you rather do, go to cinema or stay at home?你是去看電影還是待在家。
I would rather do some reading at home than go shopping with them. 與其和他們去購物，我倒寧愿留在家里讀點書。
American young people would rather get advice from strangers. 美國的年輕人寧可從陌生人那里獲取咨詢。
2. “would rather+動詞原形+than+動詞原形”意為“寧愿做某事而不愿做另一事”。如：
He would rather play than work. 他寧可玩，卻不愿工作。
I’d rather walk than take a bus. 我寧愿走路而不愿乘公共汽車。
He would rather listen to others than talk himself. 他寧愿聽別人談而不愿自己談。
He would rather deal with a man than with a woman. 他愿意和男人打交道而不愿和女人打交道。
3. “would +動詞原形+rather than+動詞原形”意為“寧愿做某事而不愿做另一事”。如：
I would do anything rather than let him get off. 我愿做任何事而不愿讓他跑掉。
I’d take the slowest train rather than go there by air. 我寧可乘最慢的火車去也不愿坐飛機去。
三、prefer句式
1. prefer+不定式+rather than+動詞原形
其意為“寧愿做某事而不愿做另一事”。如：
I prefer to walk there rather than go by bus. 我寧愿走著去，而不愿坐公共汽車去。
He prefers to read rather than watch television. 他喜歡 讀書而不喜歡看電視。
注：若語義明確，有時可以有所省略。如：
I prefer to travel by day rather than (travel) by night. 我寧愿白天旅行而不是在夜間旅行。
2. prefer+動名詞+to+動名詞
其意為“寧愿做某事而不愿做另一事”。如：
He prefers swimming to riding as a sport. 作為一項運動項 目，他更喜歡游泳而不是騎馬。
注：這類結構的 prefer 前有時也可用 would, should 等。如：
We would prefer playing outdoors to watching television. 我們寧愿在外面玩而不愿看電視。
