It is better to be rich and healthy (rather) than (to) be poor and sick. Definitions by the largest Idiom Dictionary. Je gebruikt than in een vergelijking: beter dan, groter dan, etc. Learn a new word every day. They look and sound so similar, and both words function as linguistic workhorses—then is most often an adverb, while than is usually a conjunction—which means that we mostly use them to connect more obviously significant nouns, verbs, and adjectives. You dance better than them. High quality example sentences with “what better than” in context from reliable sources - Ludwig is the linguistic search engine that helps you to write better in English. Or you can remember that "than" is a comparative adjective or adverb, and both have the letter "a," as in: This is bigger "than" that." Common Phrases Using Then. ", Merriam-Webster notes that you can also use "then" to denote a previous time: "Back 'then,' children played outside a lot more often." They're just among the select group of grammar enthusiasts who think that than can only be a conjunction. (Zuerst stehe ich auf, dann frühstücke ich.) This makes the comparison clear in each case. Definition of "Than" 1. Than is used in comparisons as a conjunction, as in "she is younger than I am," and as a preposition, "he is taller than me." Your meal looks better than mine does. The word ‘than’ is very essential when comparing two nouns in terms of more, less, better, worst, smart, dumb, and other comparative adjectives. It is most commonly used as an adverb. So when did this pair get so confusing? The use of “better” (adjective /adverb) indicates that it is a comparative degree sentence. See more. He likes English better . In the final sentence in this passage, the first use of "then" orders events, noting that Snowball, the pig, slipped and "then" was up again. Advisor vs. Adviser: How to Choose the Right Word, Afterward vs. Afterword: How to Choose the Right Word, Toward vs. In Middle English, they were the same word; both spellings were used for all the various meanings. My new phone has so many cool features. better late than never definition: 1. said when you think that it is better for someone or something to be late than never to arrive…. ("Better" is a comparative.) ‘Than’ sometimes is also used in exception-statements. Than is a conjunction that works as part of comparative phrases, but then is an adverb that specifies time, so no later than and no later then don’t mean the same thing. 'Nip it in the butt' or 'Nip it in the bud'. This restaurant is better than the last one. Than definition, (used, as after comparative adjectives and adverbs, to introduce the second member of an unequal comparison): She's taller than I am. Another idiom means “at that exact time and place, or at once”: Ethan asked me if I wanted to take a road trip, and I went home to pack my suitcase right then and there. They're not, of course. Than is a conjunction that is used for making comparisons. Definitions by the largest Idiom Dictionary. Coniugazione Documents Grammatica Dizionario Expressio. His daughter knows much more about computers . Take the sentence: Take the sentence: The quiz was harder "than" I had expected. And it's the word that follows other, rather, less, and more. It’s much better than my old one. Can you correctly identify these flowers? People get tripped up on then and than all the time—and why not? The grandmasters of style, William Strunk and E.B. (2) zeitliche Abfolge von Handlungen (2) First I get up, then I have breakfast. https://www.grammar-monster.com/lessons/than_I_me_than_he_him.htm This means that in a previous era, children spent less time indoors. We could go back to Middle English, but we think that would be harder then—um, that is, harder than—mastering these. Then is used to describe time or a logical consequence. Here’s how to keep them straight. Then he was up again, running faster than ever, then the dogs were gaining on him again.". ThoughtCo. Then indicates time. I now believe that many people are either unaware that they are two separate words, or if they are aware of the two words, they have no idea of which is which. Into: How to Choose the Right Word, Straight vs. Strait: How to Choose the Right Word, Buy, By, and Bye: How to Choose the Right Word, Passed vs. Past: How to Choose the Right Word, Sometime, Some Time, and Sometimes: How to Choose the Right Word, To, Too, and Two: How to Choose the Right Word, Were, We're, and Where: How to Choose the Right Word, Any Time vs. Some people think they're better than you because they say "better than I" instead of "better than me." The company needs a good accountant more then/than ever. The adverb "then" means at that time, in that case, or next, as in: "He laughed and 'then' he cried." Nordquist, Richard. "Than vs. Then: How to Choose the Right Word." (Ik woonde toen in Denver.) ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Then and than have many similar characteristics. That skyscraper is newer than the church. This is important to keep in mind. www.johnbutlertrio.com Nordquist, Richard. Meaning: it is better that you are dealing with this situation (because it’s a bad situation or because you deal with this kind of thing better than I do). 'Detective McNulty makes a mess, and then he has to clean it up.' Delivered to your inbox! Q: Better Than or Then? “better then before” ungrammatical and incorrect. It's been a few hundred years, however, since English has treated them as distinct, which means we have to too. No matter what you are comparing, whether it be time, money, speed, if a comparison is taking place, than is the correct word choice. Is Canada bigger . Go to the traffic lights, then turn right. You are offline. Manchester played better than Liverpool last night, but Liverpool still won the game. https://www.thoughtco.com/than-and-then-1692784 (accessed April 20, 2021). Biden expands public works, Jim Crow These are assertions, meaning the first person believes what they are saying is true. Suddenly he slipped and it seemed certain that they had him. When it comes to keyboard layouts, some purists believe DVORAK is better than QWERTY. By contrast, if you say: You are ordering events; you first answered two questions and then (subsequently), you were stumped. He is taller than his brother. unlocking this expert answer. Then. "better than they" is the correct way. For example, if you say, "I'm probably closer to my mother than my father," this is an ambiguous sentence, say Strunk and White. he does. Again, this is a comparison, so the answer is than. Anytime: How to Choose the Right Word, A, An, & And: How to Choose the Right Word, Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia, M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester, B.A., English, State University of New York. White. Than is used for comparisons. Then vs. than: Then with an e is always used as an adverb to describe a time or sequence of a thing in a sentence. Use "than" to make a comparison; use "then" to place events in time or things in order. While they sound and look alike, the two words have two very different meanings. Check out words from the year you were born and more! The character Judge Daniel Phelan speaking to Detective Jimmy McNulty in the episode “One Arrest" in the television show, "The Wire," explained how to tell the difference between "then" and "than" in an impromptu grammar lesson: "Look here, Jimmy. Coca-Cola is better than Pepsi. The quiz was harder "than" I had expected. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free! "Then" the sentence again orders events: Snowball was running faster ("than" ever), but the dogs were "then" (subsequently) gaining on him. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/than-and-then-1692784. better than phrase. The Difference Between "Then" and "Than" "Then" and "than" are often confused in the English language. It has the following meanings: Subsequently or afterwards. White, in their book, "The Elements of Style," say that you should carefully examine any sentence with "than" to ensure that no essential words are missing. In all of these examples, than is used to introduce a comparison between two things. Basic Books, 2018. The same is true for "No one is better than he/she" rather than "No on is better than him/her." the United States? Traduzioni in contesto per "better than" in inglese-italiano da Reverso Context: do better than, better than anyone, no better than, better than being, better than nothing. Traduzione Correttore Sinonimi Coniugazione. It's also in the phrases and then some, every now and then, and even then. ... "But if two was no better than one, as you said so yourself and as Grimshaw will bear witness, then three was no better than … Better you than me. In a handful of cases, though, than is used to say that something happens immediately after something else—that is, it's used when you're talking about something relating to time. Then—the option to choose when time is involved—fits in the phrases just then and back then, and after words like since and until. The way to keep the pair straight is to focus on this basic difference: than is used when you're talking about comparisons; then is used when you're talking about something relating to time. Go straight on for about 200 metres, turn right. In alle andere gevallen gebruik je then: I was living in Denver back then. (Sorry…). Strunk, William, and E. B. Both than and rather than are correct and sound natural. then (1) Zeitpunkt in der Vergangenheit oder Zukunft (damals, bis dahin) (1) They have not visited her friends since then. However, telling them apart is not impossible. What does better late than never expression mean? It is better to stay (rather) than (to) go. There are plenty of uses of the terms more than and better than where the two would not be interchangeable. Learn more. For instance, “Jacob wasn’t involved in any crime other than forgery.” It is used to compare two or more things. T-h-e-n is an adverb used to divide and measure time. By using ThoughtCo, you accept our. Linguistically speaking, they're identical twins. GA restricts voting access. Dr. Richard Nordquist is professor emeritus of rhetoric and English at Georgia Southern University and the author of several university-level grammar and composition textbooks. You can also use "then" to order items, as in: "I first counted the bills and 'then' counted the change." Consider: On the violin, Roger performs better than Felix. That harmless little four-letter word then. Let him finish his job, we'll go. It should have been than. '", Additionally, both "than" and "'comparison" have the letter "a" in them, and "then" and "time" both contain the letter "e.". "Them" is a direct object of the verb. Turns out they've always been that way. And ‘then’ is an adverb only and it is not conjunction here in this case as such it does not fit. People get tripped up on them all the time. George Orwell, in his classic book "Animal Farm," shows how you can use both "then" and "than" in the same sentence: "Snowball was racing across the long pasture that led to the road. Like maybe the one in our first sentence. Than is a conjunction used mainly in making comparisons—e.g., “My breakfast is better than yours”; “I make breakfast differently than you do.” To help distinguish between the two words, remember that than has no one-word synonyms. Conclusion : “better than before” is grammatically correct. I have a friend who is a grammar nazi and while I try to speak correctly I don't lose any sleep over it. Then The word "then" usually relates to time. And you’re confusing then and than. When trying to determine whether you should use "than" or "then," remember that "than" makes a comparison, whereas "then" involves ordering events or items. Better late than never - Idioms by The Free Dictionary. Or, "Finish your homework, and 'then' you can watch TV.". I have less space than you, but I also have fewer workers than you. Altro. Not to be confused with t-h-a-n, which is most commonly used after a comparative adjective or adverb, as in: 'Rhonda is smarter than Jimmy. The function word "than" is used to indicate a point of difference or comparison, as in: She's taller "than" you are. She can run faster than I can. And it's the word that follows other, rather, less, and more. Better Than Bitcoin? (2020, August 28). Synonyms for better than include above, beyond, superior to, too decent for, too dignified for, too distinguished for, too honorable for, too honourable for, too noble for and too principled for. To use "than" correctly, the writer could instead say, "I'm probably closer to my mother 'than' I am to my father" or "I'm probably closer to my mother 'than' my father is." (3) zusätzliche Informationen ludwig.guru Sentence examples for what better than from inspiring English sources. Set your young readers up for lifelong success, Study Up With Our Official SCRABBLE Dictionary. Other synonyms include. The sentence "then" makes a comparison using the word "than": Snowball was running faster "than" he ran before. It’s understandable that writers would confuse than and then in this phrase, since it deals with a point in time. The official video clip for The John Butler Trio song - "Better Than" from the album Grand National. So in "No sooner had I explained the rule than an exception came to mind," it's than not then that's required. Than and then are different words. I walked to the station, and then I took the bus. In written English, especially in a formal document such as a business letter or a school assignment, most native speakers believe that the subject pronouns I, he, she, we, and they are correct after than. Prince Philip dies at 99, infrastructure consort Then doesn’t come up as much as than in famous idioms and proverbs, but we have provided some examples of common phrases that use then: Better late than never on school fee rises. One person already pointed out that you can say "better than they are" and this is exactly why this is correct. "Than vs. Then: How to Choose the Right Word." "The Elements of Style." (Sie haben ihre Freunde seit damals nicht besucht.) Also, the to on the second infinitive is optional. Support wikiHow by This use of "then" orders events in terms of time. Find more similar words at wordhippo.com! Russia is even more spacious than Canada. ("More spacious" is a comparative.) There's nothing more embarrassing then correcting someone's language only to realize that your correction contains its own error. In fact, I’m better than everyone in my school. Allyn and Bacon, 2000. Definition of better than in the Idioms Dictionary. Than is the word to choose in phrases like smaller than, smoother than, and further than. And also in hardly had I explained it than and scarcely had I explained it than. Towards: How to Choose the Right Word, Right, Rite, Wright, and Write: How to Choose the Right Word, Quiet, Quit, and Quite: How to Choose the Right Word, In vs. But then as the saying goes "It is better late than never ". I answered two questions and "then" got stuck. It is a one-of-a-kind word. ‘Come over this afternoon, I’ll be ready then.’ ‘We filled up the car and then began the drive.’ Than. You misspelled culpable. 'Better than I' or 'better than me'? He was running as only a pig can run, but the dogs were close on his heels. By contrast, "then" and "extra" both have the letter "e." When you are ordering a list or events, you are adding something extra to the previous item, as in: He did this, "then" he did that, and "then" he did this other thing. The way to keep the pair straight is to focus on this basic difference: than is used when you're talking about comparisons; then is used when you're talking about something relating to time. Than vs. Then: How to Choose the Right Word. ThoughtCo, Aug. 28, 2020, thoughtco.com/than-and-then-1692784. Although they were once used interchangeably—indeed centuries ago their spellings and pronunciations frequently interchanged—now there is a clear difference between them. Nordquist, Richard. For a more detailed explanation, see the definitions below. A similar use of "then" when placing events in order might be, "I first went to the store, and 'then' I got gas. They are spelled alike, except for the E in then and the A in than. It's unclear in this comparison if the speaker is closer to her mother than she is to her father or whether she is closer to her mother than her father is. Learn Ludwig. Then refers to a specific point in time. She constantly corrects me over this one … What does better than expression mean? 6 Other Cryptocurrencies You Should Consider Cryptocurrency isn't synonymous with Bitcoin anymore By Mark Putrino , CMT Feb 9, 2021, 3:31 pm EDT February 9, 2021 When trying to determine whether you should use "than" or "then," remember that "than" makes a comparison, whereas "then" involves ordering events or items. It is used as an adverb, "I lived in Idaho then," noun, "we'll have to wait until then," and adjective, "the then governor.". maths. Take the sentence: In this case, you are making an implied comparison; the test was more difficult "than" your previous expectations of the test. Better than means superior to. If you're not quite sure what the difference between THEN and THAN is, well... You'd better watch this! Therefore, if you want to sound educated and correct, it is safer to use “better than I.”. Did you see it? 'All Intensive Purposes' or 'All Intents and Purposes'? "Than" usually follows a comparative form, but it can also follow words such as "other" and "rather.". Because the words "than" and "then" sound alike, they are sometimes confused. Another pair of words that I see misused far more often than not is than and then.. As with affect and effect, than and then are so commonly misused that I suspect that more than mere carelessness is involved. Than is the word to choose in phrases like smaller than, smoother than, and further than. ‘Sara went to the station and then boarded a train to Paris’ cannot be written as ‘Sara went to the station and than boarded a train to Paris’. "Associated Press Stylebook, The." It is better to light a candle (rather) than (to) curse the darkness. "They" is the subject. Than is comparing the time of the phone call to 7 pm and cannot be substituted with another word. to surpass; to overtake; to outperform; Examples: I’m better than you at sports.