Finally, than can mean “except” or “when.”. In this construction, the reader is able to effectively and accurately finish the sentence in his or her mind, “more than I like bagels.”. Examples: Peanuts were more expensive then. There are a lot of confusing words in the English language that have similar sounds and spellings but very different meanings. These are two common and easy-to-switch words. Than is used for comparison, and both than and comparison have the letter ‘a’ in their spellings. Or does he like bagels more than he likes me? Than is generally used to compare things, while then communicates time. For example: She was smarter than you. Fortunately, their correct usages are relatively distinct. Views: 104. Then is used to indicate time, while than is usually used to indicate comparison. grammar rabbit hole and see all our topics here. Than. Than is a conjunction used most often in comparisons between two things. On the other hand, ‘then’ sounds like ‘th’ plus ‘en’ from the word ‘den’. If you fail then … Pat grabbed the cat that was fatter than … Then and than sound similar but are slightly different. Than vs. Then Quiz. Then indicates time or consequence, as in the following examples: Bagels were cheaper back then. Than vs. Then. ‘Sara went to the station and then boarded a train to Paris’ cannot be written as ‘Sara went to the station and than boarded a train to Paris’. conjunction or preposition to compare items and draw attention to differences Finally, than can mean “except” or “when.” Then functions as an adverb that modifies verbs and means at that time, at the same time, next in order of place or time, soon afterward, as a consequence, or in addition. Here’s one more example for you: if you paid attention, then you should have no problem handling these words in the future! Run to the lake then jump in. The English words than and then look and sound a lot alike, but they are completely different. “Holistic” vs. “Wholistic”: Do You Know The Whole Difference? It may also help to note that the word than doesn’t really have a one-word substitute; it’s one of a kind. Then and than are homophones that sound alike but have different meanings. It is associated with comparatives and with words such as more, less, and fewer.Out of the two words, than is the most common. Then refers to a specific point in time. So we must say that “THAN” is a preposition that helps in combining and connecting parts of sentences. If this distinction is harder than it should be, read this lesson and then try again. The English language can be complicated and complex, inundated with several words that look the same, and even more that sound the same. For example: Than has an a sound as in the word cat or tap. B) The company has received more then 500 complaints about its meat products. The two words then and than have a clear difference in their grammatical category and their usage. Then means either ‘at that time’ or ‘what happened next’. Then vs Than: How to Remember the Difference. THEN vs THAN. A) If Nadia takes your advice, then she’s sure to … How Young People Are Redefining “Transgender” And “Nonbinary”. They are a set of homophones. Again, this is a comparison, so the answer is than. Then is commonly used to express a sense of time or what comes next or used to be. When to use than vs then? Talk About Poetry With These Introductory Poetic Terms, The Other Easter Eggs: Coded Messages And Hidden Treats. The word “then” is used as either an adverb or an adjective. Is it He likes bagels more than I, or He likes bagels more than me? However, ‘than’ sounds more like a mixture of ‘th’ and ‘an’. Would you say the company needs a good accountant more than (or then) ever? Than is a conjunction or preposition used to indicate comparison: he likes bagels more than I like bagels. TAGS: grammar. Choosing Then or Than can be difficult since they are only a single letter apart and they sound pretty close to each other. The best way to remember the difference between the two is to associate then with time and order and than with any form of comparison. We'll help you to understand the difference. The English words than and then look and sound a lot alike, but they are completely different. (then = beforehand, time-related) First I will buy some peanuts, then I will drink a soda. Like affect vs. effect and to vs. too, than vs. then cause a lot of confusion. One action leading to another. Both than and comparison have a letter “A” in them. What’s The Difference Between “Assure,” “Ensure,” And “Insure”? The best trick to remember the difference between than and then is to focus on the letters that are different – ‘a’ and ‘e’. It’s understandable that writers would confuse than and then in this phrase, since it deals with a point in time. It is also used to denote a consequence or subsequence. She goes to the mall more than the park. "Than" is used to introduce a comparison. Do you say I will call you no later than 7 pm or then 7 pm? What Is “Maundy Thursday,” And What Does “Maundy” Mean? I poured a glass of juice and then sat down to eat. The difference between then and than is that then is an adverb while than can be both a preposition as well as a conjunction. What is the difference between "than" and "then"? Read the sentence, concentrating on keeping the vowel a sound the same in each word. Than is a preposition that is used to introduce a comparison. What Makes Holi The Most Colorful Event Of The Year? Than and then are homophones. Published Aug 20, 2020. Fewer vs Less; Good vs Well; Loose vs Lose; Than vs Then ← time. 1. In this video, you’ll learn more about when to use "than" and "then" in American English. 2. Take a look at this example: Carlos is taller than his brother. Learn more about commonly confused word pairs, such as too and to or farther and further, in order to make your writing more effective and error-free. (Here, "then" relates to a past time.) For example: I was fitter then. While many use these homophones interchangeably, they are not the same. Than. “Torturous” vs. “Tortuous”: What Is The Difference? ("Than" is used with a comparison.) Decoding Trademark Symbols. This is a worksheet/handout to teach Fewer vs. Less - Then vs. Than. However, in informal communication, than is often treated as a preposition, and the pronouns in the second element are in objective case (me, him, her, them): he likes bagels more than me. The correct usage of these two words is an essential fact in English grammar practice. Either means one and goes with or, neither means none and goes with nor. Published: 19 May, 2019. Then is mainly an adverb, often used to situate actions in time. Take the sentence: Take the sentence: The quiz was harder "than" I had expected. What Do ™ , ® , © , and ℠ Mean? THEN Definition and Examples. Then and than are homophones that sound alike but have different meanings. The fact that they’re so common means that they’re also commonly misused! Than vs Then. The words than and then are often confused because they have a similar spelling. Since they are spelled and pronounced almost identically, many people … She went to the mall then to the park. There is no other word that can fill the role of than. For example, you wake up in the morning and then have breakfast. "Not either" equals neither. https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/when-to-use-then-and-than For each of the following, choose the correct sentence. It also introduces the rejected choice in expressions of preference. When trying to determine whether you should use "than" or "then," remember that "than" makes a comparison, whereas "then" involves ordering events or items. Then vs. than: Then with an e is always used as an adverb to describe a time or sequence of a thing in a sentence. Two of the most troublesome such words are "then" and "than." Summary – Then vs Than. Than is commonly used as a preposition or conjunction, whereas then is mainly used as an adverb or adjective. Than is a grammatical particle analyzed as both a conjunction and a preposition in the English language. Than can be used to introduce the second part of an unequal comparison or the rejected choice in expressions of preference. Choosing the wrong word may mean that you don’t communicate your message clearly or correctly. Than or Then? Difference between the two most common ways to … If this distinction is harder than it should be, read this lesson and then try again. Than is used to form comparisons between two things. Than is a conjunction meaning in comparison to. How Did April 1 Become “April Fools’ Day”? A conjunction is a word that connects two clauses or coordinates words in the same clause. Redefine your inbox with Dictionary.com updates! Useful for English grammar, language arts, or ESL/EFL.It has an introduction, guided practice, and independent exercises with answers.Perfect for Fewer vs. Less - Then vs. Than lesson. It introduces a comparison and is associated with comparatives and with words such as more, less, and fewer. Traditionalists will argue that than is a conjunction, and that the pronoun in the subordinate clause should be in the subjective case (I, he, she, we, they): he likes bagels more than I. Than Vs Then. It is mostly used as an adverb, which is a word that modifies a noun, a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. Than vs. Then. However, things get a little trickier when we consider ­­how to abbreviate this sentence. “Hallowmas” vs. “All Saints’ Day”: What’s The Day After Halloween Actually Called? Log in, Half a loaf is better than none and half a loaf is better than no bread. Then is usually an adverb, but it can also be an adjective or a noun. Then can function as an adjective, adverb, or noun. It’s also used in if … then constructions such as, “If you wake late, then you might have to skip breakfast.”. Then refers to a moment in time or puts things into an ordered sequence. Than is a conjunction that works as part of comparative phrases, but then is an adverb that specifies time, so no later than and no later then don’t mean the same thing. Conversely, than is positioned at the middle of the sentence, that links two elements of comparison. Cause and effect. Usually, then is related to time. The most common definition for then is at that time. Than and then, though often used interchangeably, have two very different meanings that should not be confused. If grammar makes you tense, you’re not alone. Or, you can just dive into the grammar rabbit hole and see all our topics here. Back then I danced all the time! Than is a conjunction used in comparisons: Tom is smarter than Bill. The answer is than. However, in I drove to the bank and then went to the store the word then can be substituted by subsequently, to name one example. Some examples are trickier than others, but you can learn to distinguish between these two terms. Than or Then Fifth Grade Vocabulary Worksheet Online reading & math for K-5 www.k5learning.com Complete each sentence with the word than or then. Then can be an adverb meaning in that case, in addition; or a noun meaning a moment, specific time. Than vs Then The English words than and then look and sound a lot alike, but they are completely different. If this distinction is harder than it should be, read this lesson and then try again. punctuation. After being connected and compared it has given a meaning to the sentence. A giant is taller than a dwarf. Given this, it’s easy to get the different versions of words confused and not know which one is appropriate to use at which time. Content Lead. More English Difficulties. Than is a conjunction used to introduce the second part of an unequal comparison. The following are illustrative examples. ← comparison. Than vs. Then. A) The company has received more than 500 complaints about its meat products. Then is used for time, and both then … These two words are very close in their appearance, but than vs. then have very different uses. Will vs Present Progressive. Than vs. Then. I’m not a dancer now, but I was when I was younger. Although you’ll often be able to get your point across just fine with than me, be aware that for attentive readers and listeners, it can introduce ambiguity: does he like bagels more than I like bagels? This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Let’s take a look at the differences between them. THEN On the other hand “THEN” is known as a timing word that means “at … THEN or THAN – When to Use Then and Than. Than is comparing the time of the phone call to 7 pm and cannot be substituted with another word. Get Dictionary.com tips to keep words straight ... right in your inbox. The position of ‘then’ is either at the beginning or at the end of the sentence. When to Use Than. Than with an a, in contrast, is required to serve the function of a conjunction or preposition in a sentence. Than introduces a comparison. Then indicates time or consequence, as in the following examples: You’ll also use then in if … then constructions. Than vs. then. Take your knowledge further with these articles on the difference between farther and further, affect and effect, or compliment and complement.