We couldn’t but weep at the sad news.
　　You can’t but respect them.
　　Rather than和sooner than同义，都是“宁可”，“与其…(不如)”，“不是…(而是)”的意思。当它们放在句首时，其后跟不带to的不定式;在其它位置时其后的不定式可带也可不带to:
　　Rather than risk breaking up his marriage, he told his wife everything. 他把一切都告诉了妻子，而不是冒离婚的危险。
　　Rather than cause trouble, he left. 他宁可走开而不愿引起麻烦。
　　Sooner than marry that man, she would earn her living as a waitress. 她宁可当女招待养活自己，也不嫁给那个男人。
　　He decided to write rather than telephone. 他决定写信，不打电话。
　　The manager believes it is important to invest in new machinery rather than to increase wages. 经理相信重要的是投资买新机器，而不是增加工资。
　　Rather than John do it, I’d prefer to do the job myself. 与其让John干这件事情，我宁可自己动手。
　　4、有些动词要求省掉to的不定式作宾语补语。
　　在Why 起首的疑问句中跟不带to的不定式：
　　Why not come with us? 为什么不跟我们一起来呢? =Why don’ t you come with us?
　　Why not go for a game of tennis? 为什么不去打网球呢?
　　Why not relax yourself? 为什么不放松你自己呢?
　　Why not try to train your character? 为什么不培养你的性格呢?
　　Why not give the $40 to Tom? 干吗不把那40美金给汤姆呢?
　　For God’s sake, why bring that up again? 看在上帝的份上，干吗又提这事呢?
　　Why split hairs over the color of the dress? 干吗对连衣裙的颜色吹毛求疵呢?
　　Why run this risk?  干吗冒这个险?
　　Why risk breaking the law? 干吗冒犯法的险呢?
　　5、不定式作宾语而后面还有宾语补语时，常用it来代替不定式短语，而把真正作宾语的不定式短语放在补足语后面。常见的动词有：consider认为，feel觉得，find发现，make使，think认为，等等。例如：
　　I think it best to go. 我想最好走。
　　Do you consider it right to send our doctors over? 你觉得派我们的医生去对吗?
　　I found it strange for her not to come today. 我发现她今天没来是很奇怪的。
　　注意：hope希望，demand要求，suggest建议，这三个词不能跟不定式作宾补。
　　错误的句子：
　　I hope you to be happy. 我希望你快乐。
　　I suggest you to take him seriously.  我建议你要把他当回事。
　　We demanded them to give us a definite answer.我们要求他们给个确切的答复。
　　正确的句子：
　　I hope that you’ll be happy. 我希望你快乐。
　　I suggest that you take him seriously. 我建议你要把他当回事。
　　I advise you not to take him seriously.  我建议你不要把他当回事。
　　We demanded that they give us a definite answer. 我们要求他们给个确切的答复。