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"Instead" is an adverb which is often translated as "en lugar de eso", and "rather" is an adverb which is often translated as "preferir". Learn more about the difference between "instead" and "rather" below.
instead(
ihn
-
stehd
)An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or other adverbs (e.g., to run quickly, very tired).
1. (general)
a. en lugar de eso
I asked you to help me, and you were watching TV all afternoon instead.Te pedí que me ayudaras y, en lugar de eso, te pasaste la tarde viendo la tele.
b. en vez de eso
If we don't have enough money to buy a house, we could buy an apartment instead.Si no tenemos suficiente dinero para comprar una casa, en vez de eso, podríamos comprar un apartamento.
c. mejor
Do you want to go to a party? - Let's go to the movies instead.¿Quieres ir a una fiesta? - Mejor vamos al cine.
d. en cambio
I thought no one would come to my party; instead, a lot of people came.Pensé que nadie vendría a mi fiesta; en cambio, vino un montón de gente.
e. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
I can't go to the store. Could you go instead?No puedo ir a la tienda. ¿Puedes ir en mi lugar?
The girl wanted a pony, but her parents gave her a book instead.La niña quería un pony, pero en su lugar sus papás le regalaron un libro.
f. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
I don't want to go to the beach. - Ok, where do you want to go instead?No quiero ir a la playa. - Bueno, ¿adónde quieres ir?
The cake comes with chocolate ice cream. - Can I get strawberry ice cream instead?El pastel viene acompañado de helado de chocolate. - ¿Me puede dar helado de fresa?
rather(
rah
-
thuhr
)An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or other adverbs (e.g., to run quickly, very tired).
2. (quite)
a. bastante
Under the guidance of Pope Francis, the church is becoming rather socially oriented.Bajo la dirección del Papa Francisco, la iglesia se está orientando bastante hacia lo social.
3. (somewhat)
a. mejor dicho
He has been in business, or rather at his fruit stand, for 15 years now.Ha tenido un negocio, o mejor dicho un puesto de frutas, ahora por 15 años.
