核心问题
下面是《英语正误详解词典》(复旦大学出版社，p.573)对 rather than 用法的分析：
“[误]I prefer to sail rather than to swim.
[正]I prefer to sail rather than swim.
[解释] 动词 prefer 可后接带 to 的动词不定式……但是这一结构如果后接 rather than 从而提出另一行动或做法与前者作对比时, rather than 后接的动词不定式一概不带 to ……”
请问“rather than 后接的动词不定式一概不带 to”的说法是否正确？
词典解答
我国的英语著作大都是这么讲的。但是，这并不符合实际。请看下面的实例(参见上条)：
-
... prefer to leave rather than to subvert their values. (MWDEU) ……我宁愿离开也不破坏他们的价值观。
-
Helen prefers to go by train rather than to fly. (OWPD) 海伦宁愿坐火车去而不愿乘飞机去。