- It can be used as an adverb of degree to modify an adjective or an adverb:
'These are rather expensive.'
'It's a rather complicated story.
(Medium degree: rather, fairly, quite, pretty, somewhat)
When we make a favourable comment, we usually prefer quite to rather. Quite is
unstressed:
'It's quite pleasant here.'
'It was quite a good party.'
In unfavourable comments, we usually prefer rather, but quite is possible:
'It was rather/quite a dull party.'
Rather in a favourable comment often means 'to a surprising or unusual degree'.
'I expected the party to he dull, but it was actually rather good.'
'The test paper was rather easy. (It isn't usually so easy.)'
- We can use an adverb of degree such as 'rather' or 'really' to modify a verb:
'We were rather hoping to have a look round.'
- We can use it to modify a quantifier:
'We've had rather a lot of complaints.'
- It can also be used as a way of relating one clause or sentence to another:
I'll see you tomorrow then. Or rather on Monday. (Correcting)
- 'Would rather' means 'prefer' or 'would prefer':
'I'd rather surf the net than wtach TV.'
'Would rather' is followed by a bare infinitive.The negative is 'would rather not':
'I'd rather not take any risks.'
- It can also be used to mean 'instead of' (=in place of):
'Why didn’t you ask for help, rather than trying to do it on your own?'