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# rather

«rather» in Mova's school dictionary: **quite or a little, like «rather cold»** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

adverb (rather); in phrases (would rather, rather than)

### meaning for a pupil

1) Rather means quite or a little, like «rather cold». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rather/#m1)

2) «Would rather» means would prefer: «I'd rather walk». [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rather/#m2)

3) «Rather than» means instead of. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rather/#m3)

4) «Or rather» is used to correct yourself and say something more exactly. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rather/#m4)

### sense in the lessons

In everyday talk, children say what they would rather do when choosing. In stories, rather is a softer way to say quite or very («It was rather dark»). In maths word problems, «rather than» shows a choice or a change. Phrases: would rather, I'd rather not, rather than, or rather, rather a lot.

### examples

- It's rather cold today, so take a coat. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rather/#x1)
- I'd rather have pizza than pasta. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rather/#x2)
- Would you rather swim or cycle? [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rather/#x3)
- She chose to walk rather than take the bus. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rather/#x4)
- I'd rather not talk about it. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rather/#x5)
- He was rather tired after the match. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rather/#x6)
- The test was rather easy. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rather/#x7)
- We left at six, or rather a bit after six. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rather/#x8)
- ‘Happy!’ cried he; ‘say rather unhappy. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rather/#x9)

### note

«Would rather» is followed by the base verb: «I'd rather go», not «I'd rather to go». «Rather» is British-sounding when it means quite; Americans often say «pretty». «Would you rather…?» is a popular question game.

### In the corpora

- [If a friend is being gossiped about, be kind to her and tell a trusted adult rather than repeating the cruel words.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/adult-life/50-rumours-about-classmates-and-secrets/10/)
- [A good answer comes with reasons, so ask "why?" rather than only "are you sure?".](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/ai/5-hallucinations-confident-made-up-answers/17/)
- [Parental controls are there for good reasons; talk about them rather than trying to trick them.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/ai/13-strangers-hooks-and-too-perfect-messages/18/)
- [Most venomous snakes would much rather warn you than bite you.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/biology/322-snakes-to-keep-away-from-cobras-mambas-vipers-and-rattlesnakes/2/)
- [He's kind and good-natured — though perhaps not very clever, and rather boastful and conceited.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/29-willows-ch2-part1-ducks-ditty-and-toad-hall/7/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «rather» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/rather/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.