When two infinitive structures are joined by and, or, except, but, than, as or like, the second is often without to.
Rather than is usually followed by an infinitive without to.
- I'd like to lie down and go to sleep.
- you want to have lunch now or wait till later?
- We had nothing to do except look at the cinema posters.
- I'm ready to do anything but work on a farm.
- It's easier to do it yourself than explain to somebody else how to do it.
- It's as easy to smile as frown.
- I have to feed the animals as well as look after the children.
- Why don't you do something useful like clean the flat?
Rather than is usually followed by an infinitive without to.
- Rather than wait any more, I decided to go home by taxi.
