To express a preference for one option over another, use the phrase snarare än (rather than).
Maintaining Parallel Structure
As a coordinating conjunction, snarare än connects two elements of equal grammatical weight. The structure on the left side must precisely match the right side.
If comparing two actions, both verbs must be in the exact same form. Notice below how avsluta (cancel) and uppgradera (upgrade) are both in the infinitive form, as they both rely on the modal verb ska (will):
| We will cancel the subscription rather than upgrade it. | Vi ska avsluta abonnemanget snarare än uppgradera det. |
| I want to stream unlimitedly rather than wait for the download. | Jag vill strömma obegränsat snarare än vänta på nedladdningen. |
Adjectives and Prepositional Phrases
The rule of parallel structure applies to all parts of speech. If you are comparing two descriptive traits, both must be adjectives:
| The subscription is ad-free rather than unlimited. | Abonnemanget är reklamfritt snarare än obegränsat. |
When comparing objects that belong to a prepositional phrase, repeat the preposition to maintain balance. This is especially important for verbs that rely on a specific preposition, like bry sig om (to care about) or klaga på (to complain about):
| She cares about the entertainment rather than about the monthly cost. | Hon bryr sig om underhållningen snarare än om månadskostnaden. |
| They complain about the lock-in period rather than about the download. | De klagar på bindningstiden snarare än på nedladdningen. |
Balancing Time Phrases
This grammatical balancing act applies to longer expressions as well. When comparing when something happens, ensure the prepositions of time are balanced on both sides of snarare än:
| We streamed the film ad-free during the weekend rather than during the workday. | Vi strömmade filmen reklamfritt under helgen snarare än under arbetsdagen. |
| We evaluate the entertainment during the free trial period rather than after it. | Vi utvärderar underhållningen under gratisperioden snarare än efter den. |