Rather than allow the vegetables to go bad,farmers sold them at a low pricerathen than这里做连词,连接两个并列的成分,即“平行结构”,那么allow应该跟sold同时态（就像and连接的前后两个动作时态一致一样）,也

Rather than allow the vegetables to go bad,farmers sold them at a low pricerathen than这里做连词,连接两个并列的成分,即“平行结构”,那么allow应该跟sold同时态（就像and连接的前后两个动作时态一致一样）,也
Rather than allow the vegetables to go bad,farmers sold them at a low price
rathen than这里做连词,连接两个并列的成分,即“平行结构”,那么allow应该跟sold同时态（就像and连接的前后两个动作时态一致一样）,也用一般过去式allowed才对啊,那么这里为什么要用省略了to的不定时呢?

Rather than allow the vegetables to go bad,farmers sold them at a low pricerathen than这里做连词,连接两个并列的成分,即“平行结构”,那么allow应该跟sold同时态（就像and连接的前后两个动作时态一致一样）,也
rather than 是一个并列连词,用法比较复杂,现归纳如下：
1.rather than 与would 连用时,构成“would rather...than...”句式,意思是“宁愿……而不愿……”,表示主观愿望,即在两者之中选择其一.例如：
She'd rather die than lose the children.她宁愿死也不愿失去孩子们.
2.rather than 不与would连用时,表示客观事实,意为“是……而不是……；与其……不如……”.它连接的并列成分可以是名词、代词、形容词、介词(短语)、动名词、分句、不定式、动词等.现分述如下：
(1) 连接两个名词或代词
He is an explorer rather than a sailor.与其说他是一个海员,不如说他是一个探险者.
You rather than I are going to go camping.是你而不是我要去要野营.
注意：rather than 连接两个名词或代词作主语时,谓语动词应与rather than 前面的名词或代词在人称和数上保持一致.
(2) 连接两个形容词
The sweater she bought was beautiful rather than cheap.与其说她买的这件羊毛衫便宜不如说它漂亮.
(3) 连接两个介词(短语)或动名词
We will have the meeting in the classroom rather than in the great hall.我们是在教室里开会,不是在大厅里.
She enjoys singing rather than dancing.她喜欢唱歌,而不喜欢跳舞.
(4) 连接两个分句
We should help him rather than he should help us.是我们应该帮助他而不是他应该帮助我们.
(5) 连接两个不定式
I decided to write rather than (to) telephone.我决定写信而不打电话.
注意：rather than 后接不定式时,不定式可以带to,也可以不带to,如上句.但rather than位于句首时,则只能接不带to 的不定式.如：Rather than allow the vegetables to go bad,he sold them at half price.他唯恐蔬菜烂掉,把它们以半价卖掉了.
(6) 连接两个动词
He ran rather than walked.他是跑来的,而不是走来的.
注意：这里rather than 后用了walked,而没有用walk,表示客观事实,而不是主观愿望.如果换成walk,则作“宁愿……而不愿 ……”解.
故这里用不带to的不定式表示主观的意愿,如果用过去时,就成了对客观事实的描述.

rather than位于句首时，只能接不带to 的不定式 这里不是平行结构 该句主句为farmers sold them at a low price 而 Rather than allow the vegetables to go bad 放句首主要是起强调作用，同时也表达了主语farmers不愿让蔬菜变坏的一种客观事实