If you're looking for a detailed answer for the confusion about "Than vs Then", then you're at the right page absolutely. The students of the English language are often confused when it comes to using "than" and "then".
Continue to read the full article to know about the meaning and usage of "than" and "then" with example sentences and clear explanation.
This article covers:
- Than vs then - definition and meaning
- Than as conjunction and preposition
- Then as adverb and adjective
- Difference between than and then
- FAQs - Than vs Then
Than vs Then - Definition and Meaning
Than as Conjunction
"Than" has two uses (conjunctional use and prepositional use) and a number of meanings.
A. "Than" as a conjunction is used to introduce the second part of the comparison being made or show a contrast.
- He is better than I (am).
- We talk rather than do.
Explanation:-
Example 1 uses the word, "than" as a conjunction in the comparison to introduce the second part of the comparison, "I am". So, the word, "than" here compares two persons, "he" and "I" in terms of being good.
Example 2 uses the word, "than" as a conjunction to show contrast between "talk" and "do", and tells us that we simply talk, but we don't act.
Than as Preposition
- He is better than me.
- He owns nothing other than his laptop.
Explanation:-
Example 1 uses the word, "than" as a preposition to introduce the second part of the comparison, again in terms of being good.
Example 2 uses the word, "than" as a preposition in the sense of "except for that", and tells us that "he" has nothing except for the laptop.
Then as Adverb
"Then" also basically has two uses (adverbial use and adjectival use) and a number of meanings.
A. "Then" as an adverb means at a certain time in the past or future in the senses, "at that time" or "after that".
- What happened then?
- What will you do then?
Explanation:-
Example 1 uses the word, "then" as an adverb at a particular time in the past in the sense of "after that", and tells us what happened "after that".
Example 2 uses the word, "then" as an adverb at a particular time in the future in the sense of "after that", and tells us what you will do "after that".
Then as Adjective
- The then mayor was present at the party.
- This act was enacted by the then governor.
Explanation:- Both the examples above use the word, "then" as an adjective to mean that the changed state of the mayor and the governor, meaning that they were once mayor and governor, but no more now.
Difference Between Than and Then in Meaning
The main difference between the words, "than" and "then" is that the meanings and uses of the two are different. That is, "than" both as a conjunction and preposition has the following meanings and uses:
- To introduce the second part of a comparison
- To show contrast
- To show exception
- After that
- Next
- At that time
- A changed condition
Now, it's crystal clear that the words, "than" and "then" are different by definition and meaning. There are two more differences between the words, "than" and "then". The two differences are:
- Difference in pronunciation
- Difference in grammatical category
Difference Between Than and Then in Pronunciation
The two words in "Than vs Then" can be differentiated or distinguished based on their phonological properties (don't be afraid of the academic terms.) Simply put, the pronunciations of the words, "than" and "then" are different.
Pronunciation of Than
The word, "than" is pronounced with a strong vowel as /ðæn/ or with a weak vowel as /ðən/. In /ðæn/, we have the near-open front unrounded vowel sound, whereas in /ðən/, we have the mid central unrounded vowel sound.
Pronunciation of Then
The word, "then" is pronounced as /ðen/ with a mid front short vowel.
Than vs Then Grammar (Grammatical Difference)
The main grammatical difference between the words, "than" and "then", as we've seen, is the following:
- Than can be used both as a conjunction and a preposition.
- While then is used both as an adverb or an adjective.
So, there's no similarity between the tow words, "than" and "then", because one belongs to the category of either a conjunction or a preposition, while the other belongs to the category of either an adverb or an adjective.
Examples of Then and Than in Sentences
A. What happened then?
B. What is the right option then?
C. What are you going to do then?
D. He saw him, then entered the room.
E. I am better than you (are).
F. I'd rather die than do this.
G. I want a laptop other than that one.
When to Use Than vs Then
We use the word, "than" in the following three situations:
A. When we compare two elements.
- Example: You are better than I (am). (Than = conjunction)
- Example: You are better than me. (Than = preposition)
B. When there's contrast between two things.
- Example: We think rather than act. (Than = conjunction)
C. When there's a sense of "except for"
- Example: I have nothing other than this phone. (Than = preposition)
We use "then" in two situations.
A. As an adverb
Example: What happened then?
B. As an adjective
Example: The then president said so.
Common Confusing Expressions about Than vs Then
Better then or better than
Out of the two phrases in "better then or better than", only the phrase, "better than" is grammatically accurate. As the conjunctional or prepositional than is used in comparison, the phrase, "better than" is correct grammatically as in "He is better than me/I (am)".
Also read: Better than me or better than I
Other than or then
The combination, "other than" only correct grammatically. "Other than" means "except for that" as in "It cannot be approved by any person other than you.".
Less than or then
Only the combination, "Less than" is grammatically correct. "Less than" means "having a smaller number or amount than something else" as in "The attendance is less than my expectation.".
More than or more then
The combination, "more than" is accurate only which means "having a greater number or amount" as in "The number of students is more than my expectation."
Nothing better than or then
The combination, "nothing better than" is correct grammatically where "better" is a comparative adjective form, and "than" is a preposition or conjunction.
If then or if than
"If then" is correct grammatically, because it is used in a structure like "if this is true, then that is true" as in "If boils water, then it boils." Here "then" is an adverb.
FAQs - Than Vs Then?
When to use then vs than?
We use "then" as an adverb to mean "nest", "at that time", "after that", "in addition" or "in that case", whereas we use "than" in comparison to introduce the second element of the comparison.
Better then or better than?
"Better then" is not correct. "Better than" is only grammatically accurate, because it's a comparison, and in a comparison, we use "than", and not "then". "better then" is not correct.
Other than or then?
Only "other than" is grammatically correct, because "other than" means "except for" as in "no one other than you can do it." "other then" is not correct.
Less than or then?
Only "less than" is correct, because "less than" means "having a smaller number or amount than". "less then" is not correct.
More than or more then?
Only, "more than" is correct, because it means "having a greater number or amount than. "More then" is not correct.
Nothing better than or then?
Only "nothing better than" is correct, and not "nothing better then".
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