Rather than Using bare infinitive vs. gerund

Adjunct Clause —bare infinitive vs. gerund

ADJUNCT CLAUSE  WITH BARE INFINITIVE	ADJUNCT CLAUSE  WITH GERUND
When a rather than clause begins a sentence, the verb form can be the base verb form (bare infinitival) or the gerund verb form.  The choice depends on 1) whether the sentence is worded in a parallel manner, and 2) whether parallel wording of the verb phrase in the sentence will allow it.	When rather than coordinates elements that are not syntactically alike (unparallel), or the verb of the main clause is a past or progressive form, we tend to switch to the gerund form after rather than.
PARALLEL WORDING – syntactically alike Rather than take the bus, we drive our car to work.  (parallel →  bare infinitive is preferred)	UNPARALLEL WORDING  – not syntactically alike Rather than *take/ taking the bus to work, we much prefer to drive when we can.   (unparallel → gerund)
Rather than take stock, they went on without a plan.	Rather than taking stock, they continued to spend and spend until there was nothing left.
MODALS, PRESENT TENSE  Rather than take the bus, Ed will/ could/ should/ walk to work.  (modal)	PROGRESSIVE VERB FORMS Rather than taking the bus, Ed will be walking to work.
Rather than take the bus, Ed walks to work.  (present habit) Rather than take the bus, Ed prefers to walk to work.  (present + infinitive) Rather than %take/ taking the bus, Ed enjoys walking to work.  (present + gerund)	Rather than taking the bus, Ed is walking to work.
Rather than %take/ taking the bus, Ed walked.  (% past tense) % some people use the bare infinitive and others use a gerund	Rather than taking the bus, Ed was walking to work.

*bare infinitive – the infinitive verb form without to

take stock – to take inventory (evaluate supplies); make sure of the facts in regard to something

Implied Meaning — bare infinitive vs. gerund

#2 RATHER THAN ( X to avoid Y) —  SUBJECTIVE	#2 RATHER THAN (X to avoid Y) —  OBJECTIVE
When using the bare infinitive after rather than, one interprets the meaning as "the speaker includes his/her evaluation of truth, what is right, what is logical",  The person is "taking the contrary choice as the preferred one" — a judgment of what is right or logical. In this sense, the use of the bare infinitive after rather than occurs when the main verb is a modal (will, would), present or past tense.	When using a gerund after rather than, the effect is more descriptive. Speakers are more likely to use a gerund after rather than when the main verb is progressive or present perfect tense. Perhaps, the focus on the aspect of the verb takes focus away from the modality of the verb.
BARE INFINITIVE — TAKES A STAND IN THE JUDGMENT OF TRUTH, RIGHT OR WHAT IS LOGICAL They will go on strike rather than accept what management offers them. (Implied: accepting the management's offer would be humiliating.)	GERUND  —  DESCRIPTIVE OF ACTIVITY WITH MORE FOCUS ON ASPECT RATHER THAN MODALITY They are going on strike rather than *accept / accepting what management offered them.
He went to jail rather than pay his parking tickets. (Implied: paying his parking tickets would be an admission of guilt.)	He was going to jail rather than *pay / paying his parking fines.  (description of a habitual action)
He made excuses rather than do his homework. (Implied: doing his homework would require more effort)	He has been making excuses rather than *do / doing his homework. (description of a habitual action)
We reason with him rather than get angry with him. (Implied: getting angry would be less effective.)	We reason with him rather than get/ getting angry with him.

modality – the speaker's attitude, opinion or evaluation of the activity;  also see atletick madality aspect – indicates information, such as duration, completion, or frequency, as it relates to the time of action

Common Mistakes — arguments (issues) to consider

PROBLEM	FIX
FORMALITY We took a taxi rather than getting lost.  (informal - but not incorrect)	We took a taxi rather than get lost on foot. The bare infinitive is considered more formal use by some.  This is a "prescriptivist" argument. It could be a preference for "active" or "dynamic" verb forms (bare inf.) rather than "descriptive verb forms (gerund).  See ''bare infinitive vs gerund". "rather than"
BARE INFINITIVE We decided to take a map with us rather than to get lost.	We decided to take a map with us rather than [to] get lost. (The bare infinitive does not include to.)
AWKWARD TENSE USE Rather than get lost, we are taking a map with us.  (awkward wording – tense use)	Rather than get lost, we'll take a map with us.  (Use a modal or present tense.)
Rather than get lost, we have taken a map with us. (awkward wording – tense use)	Rather than get lost, we take a map with us. (Use present – habitual.) Rather than getting lost, we took a map with us. (Use past – habitual.)
PLACEMENT OF "RATHER THAN" *He rather went to jail than pay his fines.   (awkward wording – placement) *He went rather to jail than to pay his fines.	He went to jail rather than pay his fines.  (Place rather than after the first verb phrase if coordinating two verb phrases.) He would rather go to jail than pay his fines. (Place rather before the verb if using would rather.)
"RATHER THAN" WITH 3RD PERSON-PRESENT TENSE He asks for what he wants rather than get / getting upset.   3rd person – rather than ( X to avoid Y) COMPARE TO:  He asks for what he wants rather than whines.  rather than (X not Y)	He asks for what he wants rather than getting upset. (While the bare infinitive may be considered more formal by some, other speakers use the -ing form here.   Note that the bare infinitives seems to sound better in coordination with modal, present and sometimes past tense verbs.)
"RATHER THAN" IN A COMPARATIVE SENTENCE The group is more active in pursuing their own interests rather than the interests of the country.	The group is more active in pursuing their own interests than the interests of the country.  (In a comparative sentence of this type, use more…than or -er…than.)
PARALLEL WORDING The security of the company and its assets rather than individual security has priority.  (parallel / unparallel wording)	The company security rather than individual security has priority.  or The company rather than individual security has priority. Rather than individual security, it is the security of the company that has priority. (Sometimes a sentence can be reworded to have parallel phrasing or "equal weight".   Typically, we tend to put "wordier" information at the end of the sentence.  If rewording is not possible, use rather than in an adjunct clause, so that the wordier clause can be placed after it.)