Phrases which can be just a vowel other from each and every different naturally trick language customers all the time, natives and non-natives alike.
Identical to “dangerous” and “mattress,” “pat” and “puppy,” and “mat” and “met,” the phrases “than” and “then” simplest range of their center vowel sound.
So, when you’ve been having a difficult time distinguishing the two, the submit you might be studying at the moment will have to make your day a little bit brighter.
With out additional ado, allow us to get started with a handy guide a rough resolution.
What’s the distinction between “than” and “then”?
“Than” and “then” are commonplace phrases that range of their syntactical classes or “portions of speech.” “Than” is used both as a conjunction or preposition for comparability causes, whilst “then” is regularly used as an adverb and once in a while an adjective or a noun to denote an indefinite time in the previous.
Evaluating “than” and “then” in a nutshell
“Than” is a serve as phrase used for evaluating two issues, while “then” is used for denoting time, series, or implication.
To be in a position to evaluate and distinction two pieces in English, we make use of “than” both as a conjunction or preposition in a sentence.
Instance:
Anna is an inch taller than her dual brother.
We additionally usually make use of determiners like “extra” or much less” in conjunction with “than,” particularly when estimating numbers or figures.
Examples:
We have now been residing in Idaho for greater than a decade now.
They’ve been married for not up to 5 years.
In the meantime, “then” is principally used as an adverb of time to denote the meaning “earlier than” or “at the moment” – one thing this is useful when speaking about the indefinite previous.
Instance:
The CEO used to be no longer rich then.
Or, it will also be used as a conjunctive adverb to denote sequences of movements, equivalent to announcing “subsequent” or “later on” – this turns out to be useful when giving instructions or directions.
Instance:
First, you’ve to boil 40 oz. of water. Then, you’ll be able to upload your red meat hocks or red meat shanks. Look ahead to about twenty mins or till all the impurities are got rid of.
As you’ll be able to see, the meaning of “than” and “then” can simplest be differentiated obviously when the phrases are installed context.
So, when speaking about comparisons, take note to at all times use “than.” However, remember (no longer “naked” in thoughts) to at all times make a selection “then” when indicating time or series.
Now that we’ve got had an preliminary grab of how and when to use “than” and “then,” it’s time to know extra about how to use each and every phrase to make grammatical sentences.
The next sections speak about “than” and “then” in considerable element to let you perceive extra about how each and every phrase works.
The meaning of “than” intimately
In contrast to “then,” “than” is at all times both a conjunction or preposition however by no means an adverb when utilized in a sentence.
So, it’s by no means grammatical to use “than” whilst you in fact mean the adverb “then” and vice versa.
Knowing the distinction between the conjunctive and prepositional utilization of “than” will have to let you keep away from any long term errors, confusion, and miscommunication.
“Than” the conjunction
The conjunction “than” is used to attach two or extra clauses in combination in one sentence, as that is what conjunctive components do in sentence building.
“Than” is in most cases used to introduce the 2d concept this is being when put next in the sentence, comparable to in the subsequent instance:
Instance:
Patrick sleeps and eats extra now than he used to do when he used to be nonetheless totally operating as the design director of the company.
The instance above is a posh sentence containing 3 separate concepts blended into one to be in a position to describe an match.
The than-clause is made up of 1 unbiased and one dependent concept that represents the matter’s lifestyles at the time described in the sentence.
Additionally, The conjunction “than” will also be used to distinction two or extra concepts in a sentence, in particular to constitute the concept of exception.
Instance:
Act quite than bitch.
Even though just one phrase comes after “than” in the instance above, the succeeding phrase nonetheless represents an entire clause.
To grasp what a clause in particular is and what it includes, you might also refer to our textual content overlaying the distinction between clauses and words intimately.
The instance sentence is in the crucial temper, and therefore, it’s addressed to an imaginary “you” that may be contextually understood when making instructions and requests.
“Than” the preposition
You’ll have spotted that “than” can be adopted through a noun word however does no longer entail an entire concept.
This occurs when “than” is used as a preposition in a sentence, similar to what’s most often achieved with prepositions like “in spite of,” “since,” “till,” “between,” and so forth.
One of the simplest ways to differentiate the preposition “than” from the conjunction “than” is to take a look at the phrase or phrases that it connects later on.
Right here’s an instance of how the preposition “than” works in context:
Instance:
Layla is a bit of shorter than me.
And right here’s how you possibly can use the conjunction “than” to specific precisely the identical concept:
Instance:
Layla is a bit of shorter than I’m.
As you might determine, prepositions are principally used to connect noun words in addition to pronouns, whilst conjunctions are in particular used to connect clauses in combination.
In relation to punctuation utilization, a comma is positioned earlier than “than” when it’s used to introduce a parenthetical commentary – one thing this is used to upload emphasis to a sentence.
Contrastingly, a comma has to be have shyed away from earlier than “than” if and when it introduces an concept this is grammatically a very powerful to the entire sentence.
So, no comma will have to be positioned earlier than the conjunction or preposition “than” if and when the succeeding components are important to utterly shape the meaning of the goal sentence.
The meaning of “then” intimately
Identical to “than,” a comma isn’t positioned earlier than “then” when it introduces a grammatically-critical concept in a sentence.
Then again, there also are explicit instances through which a comma will have to come earlier than “then” in a sentence, comparable to when it’s utilized in the “if-then” sentence building.
However, in contrast to “than,” “then” is rarely used as a conjunction and preposition. It’s because “then” is in fact both an adverb, an adjective, or perhaps a noun.
To peer how each and every to use “then” in each and every of the classes discussed, the following subsections provide an explanation for them intimately.
“Then” the adverb
By means of and massive, “then” is an adverb that represents an indefinite time, which turns out to be useful when recalling an match however no longer essentially that specialize in the precise time when it befell.
The adverb “then” works in a similar fashion as the time expressions “at the moment,” “at that second,” “earlier than,” “a while in the past,” or “one day in the previous.”
Right here’s how the adverb of time “then” works in a sentence:
Instance:
He used to be married then.
As you’ll be able to see, it’s inconceivable to change “then” with “than” in the instance above as the sentence would no longer make sense in any respect.
“Then” in the remaining instance is one thing that may let you know as to “when” the matter used to be married, which is in the previous.
The sentence now signifies that the matter could also be legally unmarried or already deceased at the time of describing the match.
“Then” the adjective
Infrequently, “then” will also be used as an adjective to nonetheless denote the meaning “at an indefinite time in the previous.”
To make use of “then” as an adjective, it’s in most cases paired with a noun and hyphenated halfway, thereby forming what we refer to as a compound adjective.
Instance:
Her then-boyfriend Sam left her for a petty reason why.
You’re going to understand that during the instance above, the compound adjective “then-boyfriend” is just equivalent to the phrase “ex-boyfriend.”
It appears that evidently sufficient, this phrase development may be no longer conceivable with the phrase “than.”
“Then” the noun
Closing however no longer least, “then” will also be once in a while used as a noun to point out one thing like “a time earlier than.” “that point,” or “a time in the previous.”
This utilization is regularly accomplished through the usage of the prepositions “since” and “through,” comparable to in the examples beneath:
Instance 1:
Marco started as a small-time entrepreneur seven years in the past. He has realized and earned so much since then.
Instance 2:
By means of then, the burglar has already long past out of the space.
Obviously sufficient, substituting “then” with “than” in the remaining two examples would no longer make any sense as smartly.
Commonplace expressions the usage of “than”
At this level, we now have already coated the linguistic nuances between “than” and “then.”
However, it’ll additionally assist extra if we check out some commonplace expressions that make use of each and every of those two complicated phrases.
Greater than
“Greater than” is what you possibly can use when you find yourself evaluating an concept to one thing with a slightly decrease extent.
This expression method “extraordinarily” and is used rhetorically for persuasion or emphasis. An adjective regularly comes after “greater than” when this occurs.
Instance:
Dylan is greater than excited to be in a position to go back to his fatherland after 3 years or so.
Then again, you might also use “greater than” to subjectively describe a better quantity of one thing, comparable to in the instance beneath:
Instance:
You could have gained greater than what you requested for.
Not up to
An identical to how “greater than” is used, “not up to” will also be used to rhetorically describe a decrease extent of an emotional state.
Instance:
The executive is not up to glad with the body of workers’s general efficiency.
Or, it can be used to estimate figures, quantities, or devices of size similar to in the instance beneath:
Instance:
There are not up to fifty folks in the museum lately.
Reasonably than
In the meantime, “quite than” is what you’ll be able to use to denote the identical meaning as “as a substitute of,” comparable to in contrasting two concepts with dissimilar weight or extent.
Therefore, it’s flawed to say “quite then” when expressing one thing as described above.
Instance:
Maximum of the time, individuals are irrational in the sense that they bitch in an instant quite than verify issues first.
No later than
“No later than” is especially indicative of some degree time that doesn’t transcend the approximated or specified time being referred to.
For example, you’ll be able to use “no later than” to mean “no longer after a specified time in the long term,” which additionally method “earlier than the time being described.”
Instance:
Put up your paintings no later than 11:59 pm on Saturday.
Commonplace expressions and sentences the usage of “then”
Now, allow us to additionally glance into expressions the usage of “then” to see how it really works in context.
Keep in mind that there is not any method that “than” can be utilized to with ease change “then” in the following expressions.
However then
The word “however then” may be used for contrasting concepts. Its meaning is nearer to “however” quite than “than.”
To place it merely, you’ll be able to use “however then” to mean “in spite of everything” or “on the different hand” in a sentence, similar to in the subsequent instance:
Instance:
She may well be a a hit actress, however then, she has failed as a mother.
Even then
“Even then” is one thing lets use to insist on both a truth or opinion in spite of a definite circumstance that has befell.
In different phrases, “even then” can be utilized in a sentence to mean “in spite of that” or “despite one thing.”
Instance:
She has been ill-raised through her father’s live-in spouse for years now. Even then, she continues to be type to her step-mom.
Then and now
“Then and now” is a time expression that more or less method “earlier than and after” or, extra exactly, “in the previous and now” or “ever since.”
Instance:
I consider she has a few of the maximum remarkable talents in the trade – then and now.
From time to time
In any case, “now and again” is a time expression you possibly can use to describe an match that happens “from time to time” quite than “all the time.”
This expression contextually works the identical as “each and every from time to time” or “every now and then.”
Instance:
From time to time, he feels sorry for losing his hard earned cash on playing.
Continuously Requested Questions about “Than” vs. “Then”
Which is appropriate, “greater than” or “extra then”?
“Greater than” is the proper expression and no longer “extra then.” This word is used when describing one thing that carries extra weight or extent than what is predicted.
How are we able to use “than” vs. “then” in a sentence?
“Than” is used for comparisons or contrasts, whilst “then” is used for denoting a time expression indicative of the indefinite previous.
Will have to or not it’s “no later than” or “no later then”?
“No later than” is the grammatically-correct expression and no longer “no later then.” “No later than” is a word one would use to describe one thing that should no longer be achieved after the specified or approximated time, comparable to in “no later than 3 pm lately” or “no later than the finish of the month.”
Conclusion
Whilst it’s herbal to get ticked through a few of the maximum commonplace phrases in English, we can not simply depart this linguistic subject to the mavens in the box.
Additionally it is our task as on a regular basis language customers to use language extra obviously and exactly to save you misinterpretation, or worse, incorrect information.
That’s serious about now. Please do sign up for us once more at Linguaholic subsequent time for extra fascinating subjects to discover!
Hi there fellow !! It’s me, James. I’m the proud proprietor of uggscanadaugg.ca. Languages have at all times been my pastime and I’ve studied Linguistics, Computational Linguistics and Sinology at the College of USA. It’s my utmost excitement to proportion with all of you guys what I find out about languages and linguistics normally.
