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    Difference Between Then and Than

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    English can be a tricky language, especially when some words sound the same but have different meanings. Letโ€™s take a look at the difference between Then and Than. Even though they might sound similar, they actually mean different things.

    Itโ€™s important to understand their meanings so that we can use them correctly and avoid confusion when we speak or write in English. In this article, we will learn about the difference between these two words and when to use them correctly.

    Comparison Table โ€œThen Vs. Thanโ€

    GROUNDS FOR COMPARING
    Then
    Than
    Usage:Describes a sequence of events or order of actions.Used for comparisons between two or more things.
    Meaning:Indicates what happens next or in the past.Shows differences or similarities.
    Relation:Relates to time or succession of actions.Indicates superiority, inferiority, or contrast.
    Examples:โ€œI finished my homework, and then I went to play.โ€โ€œApples are healthier than candies.โ€

    Main Difference Between Then and Than

    The difference between Then and Than is that the word โ€˜thanโ€™ is used to express comparison and maybe a conjunction (a conjunction is a word that connects two sentences). On the other hand, the word โ€˜thenโ€™ is used to represent a succession of events or a manner of speaking. To understand, carefully examine the examples.

    What Does โ€œThenโ€ Mean?

    Meaning of Then

    The word โ€œthenโ€ is like a time traveler. It helps us talk about what happens after something else. Imagine you finished your homework and then went to play with your friends. Here, โ€œthen,โ€ tells us the order of events. Itโ€™s like saying, โ€œFirst I finished my homework, and after that, I went to play.โ€ So, โ€œthen,โ€ tells us what happens next or the sequence of events.

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    โ€œThenโ€ is a word that refers to a specific time or sequence of events. It is often used to describe what happens next or what happened in the past. Here are some examples of how to use โ€œthenโ€:

    1. โ€œI finished my homework, and then I went to play with my friends.โ€
    2. โ€œFirst, we will have dinner, and then we can watch a movie.โ€
    3. โ€œHe studied hard for the test, and then he got an A+.โ€

    As you can see, โ€œthenโ€ helps us understand the order of events or what comes next in a story or situation.

    What Does โ€œThanโ€ Mean?

    Meaning of Than

    Now, letโ€™s talk about โ€œthan.โ€ This word helps us compare things. When we compare, we see how things are different or similar. For example, if you say, โ€œI am taller than my brother,โ€ you are comparing your height with your brotherโ€™s. โ€œThan,โ€ tells us that you are taller than him. We can also compare things like the size of toys or the taste of ice cream flavors. โ€œThanโ€ helps us show the difference between them.

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    โ€œThanโ€ is a word used to make comparisons. It helps us understand how one thing is different or similar to another thing. Here are some examples of how to use โ€œthanโ€:

    1. โ€œI am taller than my younger sister.โ€
    2. โ€œApples are healthier than candies.โ€
    3. โ€œI would rather go to the park than stay indoors.โ€

    In these sentences, โ€œthanโ€ is used to compare two things and tell us which one is different or better.

    Remembering The Difference Between Then and Than

    The difference between โ€œthenโ€ and โ€œthanโ€ is how we use them in sentences. We use โ€œthanโ€ when we want to compare things. It helps us see if something is bigger, smaller, better, or different from something else. For example, if we say, โ€œKelly is taller than her brother,โ€ it means Kelly is comparing her height to her brotherโ€™s.

    On the other hand, we use โ€œthenโ€ when we talk about the order of things or when something happens after something else. For example, if we say, โ€œSusan went home, and then she went to the store,โ€ it means Susan first went home and after that, she went to the store. We use โ€œthenโ€ to show the order of actions.

    We also use โ€œthenโ€ to talk about consequences. That means if something happens, then something else will happen as a result. For example, if we say, โ€œIf you donโ€™t study, then youโ€™ll get bad grades,โ€ it means if you donโ€™t study, the consequence or result will be getting bad grades.

    So, to remember the difference, think of โ€œthanโ€ for comparing things and โ€œthenโ€ for talking about the order of actions or consequences.

    Practice using these words correctly, and youโ€™ll be able to express yourself clearly in English!

    To remember the difference between โ€œthenโ€ and โ€œthan,โ€ it may be helpful to think of the following:

    1. โ€œThenโ€ relates to time or sequence, so itโ€™s about what happens next or what happened before.
    2. โ€œThanโ€ is for comparisons, helping us understand how things are different or similar.

    Remember, โ€œThenโ€ is about time, and โ€œthanโ€ is about comparing things.

    Practice Makes Perfect

    Letโ€™s practice using โ€œthenโ€ and โ€œthanโ€ in sentences:

    1. โ€œI finished my homework, and __________ I went to play with my friends.โ€ (Choose: then/than)
    2. โ€œApples are healthier __________ candies.โ€ (Choose: then/than)
    3. โ€œHe studied hard for the test, and __________ he got an A+.โ€ (Choose: then/than)

    Answers: 1. then, 2. than, 3. Then.

    Key The Difference Between Then and Than


    • Then is used to describe a sequence of events or the order in which things happen. But Than is used for making comparisons between two or more things.
    • Then indicates what happens next or what happened in the past. However, โ€˜โ€™thanโ€ Helps to show differences or similarities.
    • โ€˜โ€™Thenโ€ relates to time or a succession of actions while then Indicates that one thing is greater, smaller, better, or different from another.
    • โ€œThenโ€ is about time or sequence but โ€œThanโ€ is for comparisons.
    • Examples of โ€œthenโ€ are โ€œI finished my homework, and then I went to play with my friends.โ€ But Examples of โ€œthanโ€ are โ€œApples are healthier than candies.โ€

    Conclusion:

    Youโ€™ve learned the difference between โ€œthenโ€ and โ€œthan.โ€ โ€œThenโ€ is about time and sequence, while โ€œthanโ€ is used for comparisons. By understanding when to use each word correctly, you can improve your writing and communication skills. Keep practicing, and soon youโ€™ll become an expert at using โ€œthenโ€ and โ€œthanโ€ in your everyday life as you know the difference between Then and Than!

    References and External Links

    1. Is it better then or better than?
    Farrukh Mirza
    Farrukh Mirza
    As a professional writer, Farrukh Mirza has more than 12 yearsโ€™ experience. He is a fond of technology, innovation, and advancements. Farrukh is connected with numerous famous Technology sites. He is a dynamic individual from many rumored informal communities and works reliably to individuals with the modern world advances and tech-based information.

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