Choose the most appropriate option to fill in the blank:
I'd like to play inside ________ go out with my friends.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → rather than
Rather than (preference):
- Rather than joins two choices and shows that the first is preferred to the second: do X rather than (do) Y.
- After "would like to play", the second choice is also a base verb: play inside rather than go out.
- Complete sentence: I'd like to play inside rather than go out with my friends.
Example: She chose to walk rather than wait for the bus.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: rather — Incorrect. Rather alone cannot join two choices; it needs than. On its own it means "quite", or it is used in would rather.
Example: I would rather stay at home tonight.
Option 3: and rather — Incorrect. "And rather" does not express a preference between two actions; the comparison needs "than".
Option 4: rather then — Incorrect. Then means "after that" or "at that time"; the word that compares two choices is than. The two words sound alike but are different words.
Example: We had dinner and then went for a walk.