insteadof

insteadof — idiom

1. used to say that something or someone takes the position of another, or that you

1.慣用語A2
釋義

used to say that something or someone takes the position of another, or that you choose one option and do not choose the other

例句

Walid took the train to work instead of driving his car through the traffic.

instead of + gerund (driving)

You can use honey instead of sugar in this recipe, Reema.

instead of + noun (sugar)

同義詞
  • in place of

    more formal; common in official and written contexts

  • rather than

    focuses on the preferred option rather than simple substitution

文法句型

instead of + noun

instead of + pronoun

instead of + gerund

用法筆記

This phrase is always written as two separate words: 'instead of', never as one word. It must be followed by a noun, a pronoun, or a gerund (-ing form). It cannot be followed by a clause with a conjugated verb.

常見錯誤

❌I went instead he.
✅I went instead of him.
💡'instead of' must be followed by a noun phrase or object pronoun, not a subject pronoun.
❌She stayed home instead to go out.
✅She stayed home instead of going out.
💡use a gerund (-ing form) after 'instead of', not an infinitive.