Than is a conjunction used to introduce the second part of an unequal comparison. It is associated with comparatives and with words such as more, less, and fewer.Out of the two words, than is the most common. 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. Again, this is a comparison, so the answer is than. Then and than are homophones that sound alike but have different meanings. Than is a preposition that is used to introduce a comparison. They are a set of homophones. Than is comparing the time of the phone call to 7 pm and cannot be substituted with another word. (Here, "then" relates to a past time.) Then is used to indicate time, while than is usually used to indicate comparison. Then indicates time or consequence, as in the following examples: You’ll also use then in if … then constructions. 2. 1. I’m not a dancer now, but I was when I was younger. It is mostly used as an adverb, which is a word that modifies a noun, a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. “Holistic” vs. “Wholistic”: Do You Know The Whole Difference? Than vs. Then. However, things get a little trickier when we consider ­­how to abbreviate this sentence. (then = beforehand, time-related) First I will buy some peanuts, then I will drink a soda. TAGS: grammar. The English words than and then look and sound a lot alike, but they are completely different. While many use these homophones interchangeably, they are not the same. Than and then, though often used interchangeably, have two very different meanings that should not be confused. "Than" is used to introduce a comparison. Take your knowledge further with these articles on the difference between farther and further, affect and effect, or compliment and complement. Is it He likes bagels more than I, or He likes bagels more than me? Difference between the two most common ways to … Than with an a, in contrast, is required to serve the function of a conjunction or preposition in a sentence. ‘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’. So we must say that “THAN” is a preposition that helps in combining and connecting parts of sentences. Then can function as an adjective, adverb, or noun. Here’s one more example for you: if you paid attention, then you should have no problem handling these words in the future! (One thing is for certain: we’re getting tired of bagels!). Than vs Then. After being connected and compared it has given a meaning to the sentence. If you pronounce them differently/correctly, you will perceive them differently. To avoid confusion, your best bet is to use than I (or than he, than she, than we, than they) in formal and professional settings, and reserve than me (along with than her, than him, than us, than them) for informal speech. 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. There is no other word that can fill the role of than. “Hallowmas” vs. “All Saints’ Day”: What’s The Day After Halloween Actually Called? “Torturous” vs. “Tortuous”: What Is The Difference? Than vs Then The English words than and then look and sound a lot alike, but they are completely different. Then refers to a moment in time or puts things into an ordered sequence. The English words than and then look and sound a lot alike, but they are completely different. Content Lead. Hayley Milliman. However, ‘than’ sounds more like a mixture of ‘th’ and ‘an’. We'll help you to understand the difference. Published Aug 20, 2020. The position of ‘then’ is either at the beginning or at the end of the sentence. Then can be an adverb meaning in that case, in addition; or a noun meaning a moment, specific time. Views: 104. What Is “Maundy Thursday,” And What Does “Maundy” Mean? Than. For example, you wake up in the morning and then have breakfast. Conversely, than is positioned at the middle of the sentence, that links two elements of comparison. The most common definition for then is at that time. 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. She went to the mall then to the park. "Not either" equals neither. Since they are spelled and pronounced almost identically, many people … Would you say the company needs a good accountant more than (or then) ever? https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/when-to-use-then-and-than Redefine your inbox with Dictionary.com updates! I poured a glass of juice and then sat down to eat. Get Dictionary.com tips to keep words straight ... right in your inbox. It’s also used in if … then constructions such as, “If you wake late, then you might have to skip breakfast.”. A) If Nadia takes your advice, then she’s sure to … 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. How Did April 1 Become “April Fools’ Day”? Then can function as an adjective, adverb, or noun. A) The company has received more than 500 complaints about its meat products. 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. Than is a conjunction or preposition used to indicate comparison: he likes bagels more than I like bagels. When to use than vs then? Then vs. Than: Pronunciation. punctuation. The two words then and than have a clear difference in their grammatical category and their usage. Than vs Then. More English Difficulties. Some examples are trickier than others, but you can learn to distinguish between these two terms. THEN On the other hand “THEN” is known as a timing word that means “at … The difference between then and than is that then is an adverb while than can be both a preposition as well as a conjunction. The English language can be complicated and complex, inundated with several words that look the same, and even more that sound the same. THEN or THAN – When to Use Then and Than. On the other hand, ‘then’ sounds like ‘th’ plus ‘en’ from the word ‘den’. Than is commonly used as a preposition or conjunction, whereas then is mainly used as an adverb or adjective. Will vs Present Progressive. ← comparison. One action leading to another. Than vs. then. Than is a conjunction meaning in comparison to. Or, you can just dive into the grammar rabbit hole and see all our topics here. If this distinction is harder than it should be, read this lesson and then try again. Than is generally used to compare things, while then communicates time. The word “then” is used as either an adverb or an adjective. Both than and comparison have a letter “A” in them. Then is mainly an adverb, often used to situate actions in time. She goes to the mall more than the park. Then and than are among the 100 most frequently used words in the English language. 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? conjunction or preposition to compare items and draw attention to differences Than is used to form comparisons between two things. Take a look at this example: Carlos is taller than his brother. Run to the lake then jump in. Two of the most troublesome such words are "then" and "than." Than and then are homophones. ← time. Pat grabbed the cat that was fatter than … Read the sentence, concentrating on keeping the vowel a sound the same in each word. It’s understandable that writers would confuse than and then in this phrase, since it deals with a point in time. Then is commonly used to express a sense of time or what comes next or used to be. "Then" relates to time or means "in that case." In this video, you’ll learn more about when to use "than" and "then" in American English. The following are illustrative examples. 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 introduces a comparison. Grammar. Examples: Peanuts were more expensive then. B) The company has received more then 500 complaints about its meat products. 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. What Do ™ , ® , © , and ℠ Mean? The words than and then are often confused because they have a similar spelling. These are two common and easy-to-switch words. Fortunately, their correct usages are relatively distinct. In this construction, the reader is able to effectively and accurately finish the sentence in his or her mind, “more than I like bagels.”. Then is used for time, and both then … For each of the following, choose the correct sentence. Fewer vs Less; Good vs Well; Loose vs Lose; Than vs Then It is also used to denote a consequence or subsequence. Than vs. Then. Finally, than can mean “except” or “when.”. If you fail then … Than. Then is usually an adverb, but it can also be an adjective or a noun. Then indicates time or consequence, as in the following examples: Bagels were cheaper back then. If this distinction is harder than it should be, read this lesson and then try again. Usually, then is related to time. Summary. Than is a conjunction used most often in comparisons between two things. Take the sentence: Take the sentence: The quiz was harder "than" I had expected. For example: I was fitter then. 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. THEN Definition and Examples. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Or does he like bagels more than he likes me? ("Than" is used with a comparison.) It may also help to note that the word than doesn’t really have a one-word substitute; it’s one of a kind. Let’s take a look at the differences between them. The correct usage of these two words is an essential fact in English grammar practice. When to Use Than. Than or Then? Than is used for comparison, and both than and comparison have the letter ‘a’ in their spellings. Talk About Poetry With These Introductory Poetic Terms, The Other Easter Eggs: Coded Messages And Hidden Treats. A giant is taller than a dwarf. 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. The answer is than. Than has an a sound as in the word cat or tap. 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. It introduces a comparison and is associated with comparatives and with words such as more, less, and fewer. These two words are very close in their appearance, but than vs. then have very different uses. Then has an open e sound as in pet or let. Then refers to a specific point in time. Than vs. Then Quiz. Published: 19 May, 2019. For example: Back then I danced all the time! Do you say I will call you no later than 7 pm or then 7 pm? The fact that they’re so common means that they’re also commonly misused! What’s The Difference Between “Assure,” “Ensure,” And “Insure”? Like affect vs. effect and to vs. too, than vs. then cause a lot of confusion. Than vs. Then. Then and than sound similar but are slightly different. Than is a conjunction used in comparisons: Tom is smarter than Bill. Then vs Than: How to Remember the Difference. Take this quick test to see what you have learned. A conjunction is a word that connects two clauses or coordinates words in the same clause. Summary – Then vs Than. There are a lot of confusing words in the English language that have similar sounds and spellings but very different meanings. Then and than are homophones that sound alike but have different meanings. Choosing the wrong word may mean that you don’t communicate your message clearly or correctly. Cause and effect. THEN vs THAN. If this distinction is harder than it should be, read this lesson and then try again. Choosing Then or Than can be difficult since they are only a single letter apart and they sound pretty close to each other. (then = afterwards, time-related) Than vs. Then. grammar rabbit hole and see all our topics here. Than can be used to introduce the second part of an unequal comparison or the rejected choice in expressions of preference. What is the difference between "than" and "then"? It also introduces the rejected choice in expressions of preference. Then means either ‘at that time’ or ‘what happened next’. Than Vs Then. For example: She was smarter than you. The Bottom Line. Than is a grammatical particle analyzed as both a conjunction and a preposition in the English language. Decoding Trademark Symbols. How Young People Are Redefining “Transgender” And “Nonbinary”. Either means one and goes with or, neither means none and goes with nor. 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. Log in, Half a loaf is better than none and half a loaf is better than no bread. The best trick to remember the difference between than and then is to focus on the letters that are different – ‘a’ and ‘e’. If grammar makes you tense, you’re not alone. What Makes Holi The Most Colorful Event Of The Year?