"instead of" is often used as a prepositional phrase in English sentences, which means "in lieu of" or "instead of". This phrase can be used to connect two nouns, pronouns, gerunds, or verb primitives to express a vicarious relationship.
In sentences, "instead of" is often used as an adverbial to modify verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, or entire sentences. It can be located at the beginning, in the middle of a sentence, or at the end of a sentence, depending on the structure of the sentence and the focus of the emphasis.
Here are some examples of "instead of" in different positions in a sentence:
Located at the beginning of the sentence
instead of going to the movies, we decided to stay home and watch a **
instead of buying a new car, she chose to repair her old one.
Located in the middle of the sentence
we went for a walk instead of staying at home.
she prefers reading books instead of watching tv.
Located at the end of the sentence
they preferred to cook at home, instead of eating out.
he decided to study hard, instead of wasting his time on social media.
It is important to note that "instead" and "instead of", although both denote alternative relationships, they differ in their usage. "Instead" is often used as an adverb to connect two sentences or sentence components, whereas "instead of" is a prepositional phrase that connects a noun, pronoun, gerund, or verb form.
In addition, "instead of" can sometimes be omitted, but this usage is uncommon and is usually limited to certain fixed collocations or idiomatic usages.
instead of buying a new car, she chose to invest in a reliable used one.
instead of wasting time on social media, he prefers to read books that enrich his mind.
we decided to h**e a picnic in the park instead of going to a restaurant for lunch.
instead of complaining about the traffic, she decided to le**e earlier to **oid the rush hour.
instead of relying on public transportation, he prefers to cycle to work for the exercise and fresh air.
they chose to spend their vacation in a small, quiet town instead of a busy tourist destination.