What is the difference between "then" and "than"?
How can you tell Then vs. Than apart? What is the actual difference??
One thing is for sure, they share many of the same features and it may be difficult to distinguish one from the other. So, how can you tell them apart? If we look at identical twins, even they have unique characteristics in their physical appearance and personality. A lot of people make errors with the identical pair... then/than. If you get to know them better, you don't have to be one of those people who can't tell them apart. = )
When to use then
Then often functions as an adverb.
Dictionaries define then in lots of different ways: in that case, at the same time, at that time, next in order of place or time, soon afterward, in addition, or as a consequence.
Standing next to Dee is Jenny, then my roommate Jihye, then me.
Francisco told me, “If we are having fun together, then you should take lots of photographs.”
There were no digital cameras back then!
Sometimes, then is an adjective or a noun.
As an adjective, it means “being such, existing, or being at the time indicated.”
As a noun, it means “that time.”
My then-roommate Tom moved out and I've not seen him since then.
Then appears in some idioms too.
One means “on the other hand”:
John is funny, but then I laugh at everything.
Another idiom means “at that exact time and place, or at once”:
Lee asked me if I wanted to take a road trip, and I went home to pack my suitcase right then and there.
When to use than
Than is a conjunction used to introduce the second part of an unequal comparison. It also introduces the rejected choice in expressions of preference. Finally, than can mean “except” or “when.”
Sue is shorter than Anna.
She would rather not go than wear high heels.
Than can also function as a preposition.
As a preposition, than means “in relation to” or “by comparison with.” Here’s a (technically correct) construction of a sentence you may not have seen before:
Amy is a friend than whom there is none more caring.
Than appears in a lot of idioms.
Many of them, such as “more fun than a barrel of monkeys” or “more dead than alive,” feature comparisons.
You’ve probably heard some of the most popular ones.
1."easier said than done.”
“better late than never”
In conclusion... we know that they are spelled alike, except for the e in then and the a in than. However, telling them apart is not impossible! They have different characteristics, but how you define than is definitely not the same as how you define then! They have different “personalities” in that they function as different parts of speech.
Do you feel that you know them better now? = )
Then vs. Than
What is the difference between "then" and "than"?
The essential difference between then vs than is that you should use than when making comparisons, while you should use then for things relating to order or time.
Kelly is taller than her brother.
Susan went home, and then she went to the store.
then vs than
then is used to refer " later in time"
than is used for comparison
exp:
i will go home then i will call you
then is used to say that the speaker will call after reaching home
john is better than ash
means john is being compared with ash
hope you understand
Difference between this homophone!
The word,"than" is always in reference to a comparison.
Meanwhile, "then" is always a reference to time.
Your car is bigger than mine.
We ate then we took an English lesson on homophones.
between than and then is to focus on the letters that are different – 'a' and 'e'
The word "then" means "at that time" and is used to talk about when things will happen. The word "than" is used to compare things
"she is younger than I am"
"we'll have to wait until then"
"Than" introduces a comparison. It is most often seen with comparatives and words like "more," "less," and "fewer.
"Then" usually relates to time. It is most commonly used as an adverb
smarter than ,better than ,more spacious
-Craig is smarter than Paul.
("Smarter" is a comparative.)
-Money is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons.
Russia is even more spacious than Canada
"More spacious" is a comparative
Subsequently or afterwards
-Go to the traffic lights, then turn right. correct tick
-It went dark, then there was a scream
The meaning of then and than are totally not the same.
However, most of you are probabaly confused with the sound, so let us talk about the different between the proouciation of a and e first.
Letter a has a rather longer sound than e, and as you may know how to say the words "apple" and "bed".
Then, you must have a clear answer for this question now.
two different parts of speech
adverb and conjunction
What is the difference between "then" and "than"?
then - is an adverb
than - conjunction
Then, as an adverb, is generally used as a reference of time to indicate that something happened after something. It defines the chronology of events. Than is a conjunction, like 'and' and 'but', which is used to compare two objects or phrases in a sentence.
The words "then" and "than" are often confused because they are similar in spelling and pronunciation, but they have different meanings and uses.
"Then" is an adverb that is used to indicate time or sequence. It is often used to indicate what happens next in a series of events, or to refer to a specific point in time. For example, you might say "I will go to the store, and then I will come home" to indicate the order in which you will complete two tasks.
"Than" is a conjunction that is used to compare two things. It is often used to indicate that one thing is different or distinct from another thing. For example, you might say "I am taller than my sister" to indicate that you are taller in relation to your sister.
In summary, the main difference between "then" and "than" is that "then" is an adverb that indicates time or sequence, while "than" is a conjunction that is used to compare two things.
Difference between 'then' and 'than'
The word "then" means "at that time" and is used to talk about when things will happen. The word "than" is used to compare things.
I ate breakfast and then I went to work.
My shoes are smaller than your shoes
*
The word "then" means "at that time" and is used to talk about when things will happen. The word "than" is used to compare things
When to use then and when to use than, it's tricky!
2 examples if the use of the words then and than.
1. Amanda is shorter than Annabelle.
Standing next to Edwin is Ethan, then my roommate Claire, then me.
Used to compare or things that will happen.
MORE THAN vs MORE THEN
If you are comparing something you say I have more than you. But when we say I had more then, meaning at a specific time I had more than you did.
MORE THAN vs MORE THEN
My jacket costs more than yours. I wish I had more money then than I have now.
Here is the difference between then and than.
Then
at that time; at the time in question, after that; next; afterward
Than
used to introduce the second element in a comparison
used in expressions introducing an exception or contrast.