Resources
Lecciones de gramáticaPor temasFlash cardsLecturasEjercicios de listeningGlosarioFalsos amigos¿Cuál usar?SufijosPrefijosDiscover your levelBlogThanvsThen
'Than' is used in comparisons; 'then' indicates time, sequence, or logical consequence.
Side-by-side comparison
"Than" is the conjunction used in comparisons. "She is taller than me" = she has more height than I do. Always appears with a comparative: more than, less than, better than, worse than.
This report is much longer than the previous one.
She is more experienced than anyone else on the team.
The project cost more than we had budgeted.
"Then" indicates time (at that moment, afterwards) or logical consequence. "First this, then that" = a sequence. "If it rains, then we stay" = a logical result. "Back then" = at that time in the past.
First, review the contract. Then sign it and send it back.
If the test passes, then we can deploy to production.
Back then, mobile internet barely existed.
Common mistake
- •Frequent writing error: "He is taller then me" when comparing (correct: than).
- •Or "I ate dinner, than I watched TV" when indicating sequence (correct: then).
- •They sound nearly the same but have completely different functions.
Trick to remember it
- •"Than" has A, like "compAre." "Then" has E, like "timE" and "sEquence." Can you swap it with "compared to"? = than.
- •Can you swap it with "at that point" or "after that"? = then.
Quick rule
Is there a comparison (more than, less than, better than)? "Than." Is it time or sequence (first... then)? "Then."
Did you know?
THAN and THEN both descend from the Old English "þonne," used for both comparisons and temporal expressions. The distinction was not fully systematic until the 18th century when grammarians formalized the spelling difference. Even Shakespeare used "then" in comparisons, so if you mix them up, you are in excellent historical company. Today in standard written English the distinction is fixed: THAN for comparisons, THEN for time. But in everyday informal speech, especially in American English, the pronunciation difference between the two shrinks to nearly nothing, making them almost indistinguishable in rapid conversation.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
She's a much better cook _____ her sister. Everything she makes is delicious.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
First, we'll have dinner. _____ we can watch a film.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Related word pairs
One means to receive or agree to something, the other means to exclude or not include.
'Advice' is the guidance you receive (noun); 'advise' is the act of giving that guidance (verb).
'Affect' is the verb meaning to influence something; 'effect' is the noun meaning result or consequence.
'Aisle' is the walkway between rows of seats or shelves; 'isle' is a small island.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy