rather

preferiblemente

Con would, expresa que se prefiere una opción a otra.

En inglés sencillo: Used with would to say what you want more than another choice.

• I would rather walk.
• Would you rather have tea or coffee?
• He would rather not discuss it today.

Cómo se usa: would rather + base verb (I would rather walk home.); would rather do A than do B (She would rather cook than order food.); would rather someone + past tense (I would rather you stayed here.)

Sinónimos: preferably

Expresiones frecuentes: would rather go, would rather not, rather than walk, would rather stay

bastante, algo

En un grado considerable, a menudo mayor de lo esperado.

En inglés sencillo: To a fairly large degree, often more than expected.

• It is rather cold.
• She looked rather tired after work.
• That turned out to be rather an expensive meal.

Cómo se usa: rather + adjective/adverb (The train arrived rather late.); rather a/an + adjective + noun (It was rather a strange evening.)

Sinónimos: quite, fairly, somewhat

Expresiones frecuentes: rather cold, rather difficult, rather a lot, rather expensive

en vez de, en lugar de

Con «than», indica que se hace o se elige una cosa en lugar de otra.

En inglés sencillo: Used with than to show that one thing happens or is chosen instead of another.

• Use oil rather than butter.
• She called rather than sending a message.
• Rather than wait, we went home.

Cómo se usa: rather than + noun/-ing/base verb (We walked rather than taking a taxi.)

Sinónimos: instead

Expresiones frecuentes: rather than something, rather than wait, rather than driving

mejor dicho, más bien

Después de «or», sirve para corregir lo que acabas de decir o expresarlo con más precisión.

En inglés sencillo: Used after or to correct what you just said or make it more exact.

• It was red, or rather dark pink.
• We arrived yesterday, or rather early this morning.
• She smiled, or rather tried to smile.

Cómo se usa: or rather + correction (He is my uncle, or rather my great-uncle.)

Sinónimos: more precisely, more accurately

Expresiones frecuentes: or rather, or rather something

al contrario, más bien

Introduce una afirmación que sustituye o contradice lo dicho antes.

En inglés sencillo: Used to introduce a statement that replaces or goes against a previous statement.

• He was not angry; rather, he was confused.
• The plan did not reduce costs; rather, it increased them.
• She did not ignore the problem; rather, she addressed it directly.

Sinónimos: instead, on the contrary

Expresiones frecuentes: rather it is, rather we should

¡Claro!, ¡Desde luego!

Expresa un acuerdo firme o mucho entusiasmo por algo.

En inglés sencillo: Used to show that you strongly agree or feel very positive about something.

• “Did you enjoy dinner?” “Rather!”
• “Would you like another game?” “Oh, rather!”
• “Was the concert good?” “Rather! I loved it.”

Sinónimos: certainly, absolutely, definitely

Antónimos: no

Expresiones frecuentes: oh rather, rather indeed