Many people get confused with the words then and than –and it’s understandable! Why do they have to look so similar? They lead, in fact, to one of the most common mistakes among English learners. While you shouldn’t stress about minor mistakes, your conversations in English at work will be much more efficient the more grammatically correct they are.
If you learned English at school as a second language, you may remember complicated grammatical explanations, big words, and exercises that didn’t make so much sense. The goal of this article is to quickly clarify the difference between these two words –in plain language. We’ve also added a more official explanation as well in case you are a grammar connoisseur.
These two words sound alike, but the spelling and use are different. The first tip you should remember is that if you are comparing two things, you will need THAN. If you are talking about time, you will need THEN. That’s it. Mystery solved.
Useful Trick: Use mnemonics or little tricks to remember the difference between these two. These can be silly, but they tend to help a lot. This is the one I use in this case:
While the rule above is an easy way to remember the difference, there is, indeed, a bit more to it. Let’s look at each word individually.
In a nutshell: “Than” is used to introduce a comparison, an exception, or contrast. You will see it with expressions like more than, less than, better than, rather than, other than, no sooner… than, bigger than, etc.
Extended version: “Than” can be both a conjunction and a preposition (conjunctions are usually followed by a clause or a verb, while prepositions are usually followed by a noun).
Comparison. It is used to introduce the second element in a comparison.
Exception or contrast. You will also see it in expressions introducing an exception or contrast.
Sequence. It also appears in expressions indicating that one action happened immediately after another.
Popular expressions using than:
In a nutshell: “Then” usually refers to a moment–at that time, after that, in that case. You will see it with expressions like since then, until then, see you then, back then, by then, now and then, then and there, every now and then, just then.
Extended version: “Then” is an adverb that usually indicates time, although it can also act as an adjective.
Time. At that time, at the time in question. You may also see the expression “then and there”, which means immediately.
Afterwards. it is used to indicate that something happens next, afterwards, or subsequently.
Consequence. It can indicate the result or consequence of an action. It is also used to finish off a conversation
Make sure the difference sticks with this simple exercise. Fill the gaps with the right word –than or then. If you are a Talaera student, complete this exercise on the platform to get immediate feedback. If you don't have access
Go to exercise on the Talaera platform.
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